A report by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), Urban Planning After COVID-19: Supporting Global Sustainable Recovery, has called for decentralisation in urban planning across the world in order to aid the transition to a low carbon future.
Published ahead of COP26, the report considers the inequalities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and how urban planning can be used to reduce such social and economic inequalities while also delivering low-emission communities. It looks at the role urban planning has in improving housing health and wellbeing, economic sectors, production, consumption, as well as travel and urban infrastructure.
In order to achieve a low carbon future, the RTPI says in its report that powers over land development and greater fiscal capacity must be devolved to local authorities around the world so their countries can build greener and more equal communities.
The report states that countries should demand sustainable products and services, as well as ensuring there are relevant economic activities within sustainable and inclusive value chains. This should be facilitated by a widespread adoption of digital technology and the focus should be on including the most vulnerable in society.
President of the RTPI, Dr Wei Yang FRTPI, commented: "With the international community coming under intense pressure to tackle the climate crisis, the vital role of the planning profession needs to be fully recognised."
"If we are to meet carbon targets set out in the Paris Agreement, our urban and rural areas must be designed with low-emission activity and low-carbon lifestyles in mind. The report reflects on the current situation, and more importantly emphasises what needs to change. At this critical moment in history, planners are at the forefront in the movement to create a better future for our society. We encourage other forces to positively engage with planning to tackle the grand challenges of our times together, through a place-based systems approach."
