Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge

As an Urban planner, I work with a team of young professionals in planning for a sustainable urban  transformation in an overpopulated developing country. This was a major challenge because more  and more people keep migrating to the cities. The population density in cities increased  consumption, production and pollution. These activities created problems like air pollution,  greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and poverty.

To achieve a successful sustainable urban transformation much emphasis is placed on structural  transformation by focusing on Governance and Planning, Innovation and Business, and Lifestyle  and Consumption. We are to develop policies for strategic planning quickly with a flexibility for  rapidly changing urban conditions, and also encourage symbiotic relationships among industries,  governments, universities, and citizens to ensure sustainable management.

Selection

Our team decided to use the storytelling tool to appeal/connect the policy made for the strategic  urban planning to the values of our audience (Industries, Governments, Universities, and Citizens).  Storytelling was also used to encourage our audience to act sustainably by outlining a pathway  towards a well-planned and more compact city that prioritizes people, provides a walkable urban  development scheme and approaches waste management sustainably.

Application

Coming up with these policies/strategies involved my team and I discussing future expectations of  urban transformation with several Industries, Governments, and Citizens. We explained to them  the goal of a sustainable city, how it provides people with high quality living environment without  using huge amounts of natural resources. We made our audience understand that our natural  resources are finite, and also understand the effects our consumption of these natural resources has  on the environment in the long run. We told stories about energy in sustainable cities, the reliance  on burning fossil fuels and how the installation of solar panels reduces energy use in buildings,  this was done to encourage more energy efficient buildings. A sustainable city that offers high  quality life, consumes energy efficiently and produces energy from renewable sources.

We also told stories about creating other forms of transportation such as light rail networks, mass  transport, bus networks, making our audience understand that the way a city is planned influences  the ways in which people get around that city. We also shared stories addressing waste  management, the process of collecting, transporting and treating waste for proper disposal, reuse,  recycling, composting, and energy generation.

Insight

We realized that achieving urban sustainable development meant addressing other important goals  of sustainability such as protecting biodiversity, reducing pollution, enabling equity and social  justice.

Approach

We created a list of agencies, industries, and governmental bodies that are directly and indirectly  involved in urban transformation that have a big influence on the planning of urban developments.  We reached out to these agencies, industries and governmental bodies, sat at a round table and sold  the challenge to them, spoke at length about the challenge and then presented them with possible  solutions.  A committee was then created to oversee urban developments. This committee is  responsible for strategic planning and policymaking concerning urban planning which centers  around urban infrastructure, urban mobility and Naturvation (Nature Based Solutions).


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge As an Urban planner , I work with a team of young professionals in planning for a sustainable urban transformation in an overpopulated developing country . This was a major challenge because more and more people keep migrating to the cities . The population density in cities increased consumption , production and pollution . These activities created problems like air pollution , greenhouse gas emissions , waste , and poverty . To achieve a successful sustainable urban transformation much emphasis is placed on structural transformation by focusing on Governance and Planning , Innovation and Business , and Lifestyle and Consumption . We are to develop policies for strategic planning quickly with a flexibility for rapidly changing urban conditions , and also encourage symbiotic relationships among industries , governments , universities , and citizens to ensure sustainable management . Selection Our team decided to use the storytelling tool to appeal / connect the policy made for the strategic urban planning to the values of our audience ( Industries , Governments , Universities , and Citizens ) . Storytelling was also used to encourage our audience to act sustainably by outlining a pathway towards a well - planned and more compact city that prioritizes people , provides a walkable urban development scheme and approaches waste management sustainably . Application Coming up with these policies / strategies involved my team and I discussing future expectations of urban transformation with several Industries , Governments , and Citizens . We explained to them the goal of a sustainable city , how it provides people with high quality living environment without using huge amounts of natural resources . We made our audience understand that our natural resources are finite , and also understand the effects our consumption of these natural resources has on the environment in the long run . We told stories about energy in sustainable cities , the reliance on burning fossil fuels and how the installation of solar panels reduces energy use in buildings , this was done to encourage more energy efficient buildings . A sustainable city that offers high quality life , consumes energy efficiently and produces energy from renewable sources . We also told stories about creating other forms of transportation such as light rail networks , mass transport , bus networks , making our audience understand that the way a city is planned influences the ways in which people get around that city . We also shared stories addressing waste management , the process of collecting , transporting and treating waste for proper disposal , reuse , recycling , composting , and energy generation . Insight We realized that achieving urban sustainable development meant addressing other important goals of sustainability such as protecting biodiversity , reducing pollution , enabling equity and social justice . Approach We created a list of agencies , industries , and governmental bodies that are directly and indirectly involved in urban transformation that have a big influence on the planning of urban developments . We reached out to these agencies , industries and governmental bodies , sat at a round table and sold the challenge to them , spoke at length about the challenge and then presented them with possible solutions . A committee was then created to oversee urban developments . This committee is responsible for strategic planning and policymaking concerning urban planning which centers around urban infrastructure , urban mobility and Naturvation ( Nature Based Solutions ) .