Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development Definition of "Urban"

DEFINITION OF “URBAN” SOURCE: Demographic Yearbook 2005, table 6 AFRICA Botswana: Agglomeration of 5 000 or more inhabitants where 75 per cent of the economic activity is non-agricultural. Burundi: Commune of Bujumbura. Comoros: Administrative centres of prefectures and localities of 5 000 or more inhabitants. Egypt: Governorates of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, frontier governorates and capitals of other governorates, as well as district capitals (Markaz). Equatorial Guinea: District centres and localities with 300 dwellings and/or 1 500 inhabitants or more. Ethiopia: Localities of 2 000 or more inhabitants. Liberia: Localities of 2 000 or more inhabitants. Malawi: All townships and town planning areas and all district centres. Mauritius: Towns with proclaimed legal limits. Niger: Capital city, capitals of the departments and districts Senegal: Agglomerations of 10 000 or more inhabitants. South Africa: Places with some form of local authority. Sudan: Localities of administrative and/or commercial importance or with population of 5 000 or more inhabitants. Swaziland: Localities proclaimed as urban. Tunisia: Population living in communes. United Republic of Tanzania: 16 gazetted townships. Zambia: Localities of 5 000 or more inhabitants, the majority of whom all depend on non-agricultural activities. AMERICA, NORTH Canada: Places of 1 000 or more inhabitants, having a population density of 400 or more per square kilometre. Costa Rica: Administrative centres of cantons. Cuba: Population living in a nucleus of 2 000 or more inhabitants. Dominican Republic: Administrative centres of municipalities and municipal districts, some of which include suburban zones of rural character. El Salvador: Administrative centres of municipalities. Greenland: Localities of 200 or more inhabitants. Guatemala: Municipality of Guatemala Department and officially recognized centres of other departments and municipalities. Haiti: Administrative centres of communes. Honduras: Localities of 2 000 or more inhabitants, having essentially urban characteristics. Mexico: Localities of 2 500 or more inhabitants. Nicaragua: Administrative centres of municipalities and localities of 1 000 or more inhabitants with streets and electric light. Panama: Localities of 1 500 or more inhabitants having essentially urban characteristics. Beginning 1970, localities of 1 500 or more inhabitants with such urban characteristics as streets, water supply systems, sewerage systems and electric light. Puerto Rico: Agglomerations of 2 500 or more inhabitants, generally having population densities of 1 000 persons per square mile or more. Two types of urban areas: urbanized areas of 50 000 or more inhabitants and urban clusters of at least 2 500 and less than 50 000 inhabitants. United States: Agglomerations of 2 500 or more inhabitants, generally having population densities of 1 000 persons per square mile or more. Two types of urban areas: urbanized areas of 50 000 or more inhabitants and urban clusters of at least 2 500 and less than 50 000 inhabitants. U.S. Virgin Islands: Agglomerations of 2 500 or more inhabitants, generally having population densities of 1 000 persons per square mile or more. Two types of urban areas: urbanized areas of 50 000 or more inhabitants and urban clusters of at least 2 500 and less than 50 000 inhabitants. (As of Census 2000, no urbanized areas are identified in the U.S. Virgin Islands.) AMERICA, SOUTH Argentina: Populated centres with 2 000 or more inhabitants. Bolivia: Localities of 2 000 or more inhabitants. Brazil: Urban and suburban zones of administrative centres of municipalities and districts. 1 Chile: Populated centres which have definite urban characteristics such as certain public and municipal services. Ecuador: Capitals of provinces and cantons. Falkland Islands (Malvinas): Town of Stanley. Paraguay: Cities, towns and administrative centres of departments and districts. Peru: Populated centres with 100 or more dwellings. Suriname: Paramaribo town. Uruguay: Cities. Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic: Centres with a population of 1 000 or more inhabitants. ASIA Armenia: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Azerbaijan: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Bahrain: Communes or villages of 2 500 or more inhabitants. Cambodia: Towns. China: Cities only refer to the cities proper of those designated by the State Council. In the case of cities with district establishment, the city proper refers to the whole administrative area of the district if its population density is 1 500 people per kilometre or higher; or the seat of the district government and other areas of streets under the administration of the district if the population density is less than 1 500 people per kilometre. In the case of cities without district establishment, the city proper refers to the seat of the city government and other areas of streets under the administration of the city. For the city district with the population density below 1 500 people per kilometre and the city without district establishment, if the urban construction of the district or city government seat has extended to some part of the neighboring designated town(s) or township(s), the city proper does include the whole administrative area of the town(s) or township(s). Cyprus: Urban areas are those defined by local town plans. Georgia: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families.

India: Towns (places with municipal corporation, municipal area committee, town committee, notified area committee or cantonment board); also, all places having 5 000 or more inhabitants, a density of not less than 1 000 persons per square mile or 400 per square kilometre, pronounced urban characteristics and at least three fourths of the adult male population employed in pursuits other than agriculture.
市（地方自治体や自治会、町内会、公認町内会、野営理事会）及び5000人以上が居住し人口密度が1マイルに1000人以上または1平方キロに400人以上で、明白な都市の特徴と少なくとも成人男性の4分の３が農業以外の目的で雇用されていること。

Indonesia: Places with urban characteristics. Iran (Islamic Republic of): Every district with a municipality. Israel: All settlements of more than 2 000 inhabitants, except those where at least one third of households, participating in the civilian labour force, earn their living from agriculture.

Japan: City (shi) having 50 000 or more inhabitants with 60 per cent or more of the houses located in the main built-up areas and 60 per cent or more of the population (including their dependants) engaged in manufacturing, trade or other urban type of business. Alternatively, a shi having urban facilities and conditions as defined by the prefectural order is considered as urban.
人口5万人以上で60％以上の土地に住宅があり60％以上の人口が製造・通商及び他の都市型の職業に従事していること。或いは、都市の設備と県令にに定義される条件を持つ市が都市とみなされる。

Kazakhstan: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Korea, Republic of: Population living in cities irrespective of size of population. Kyrgyzstan: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Malaysia: Gazetted areas with population of 10 000 and more. Maldives: Malé, the capital. Mongolia: Capital and district centres. Pakistan: Places with municipal corporation, town committee or cantonment. Sri Lanka: Urban sector comprises of all municipal and urban council areas. Syrian Arab Republic: Cities, Mohafaza centres and Mantika centres, and communities with 20 000 or more inhabitants. Tajikistan: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Thailand: Municipal areas. Turkey: Population of settlement places, 20 001 and over. Turkmenistan: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Uzbekistan: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Viet Nam: Urban areas include inside urban districts of cities, urban quarters and towns. All other local administrative units (commues) belong to rural areas. 2 3 EUROPE Albania: Towns and other industrial centres of more than 400 inhabitants. Austria: Communes of more than 5 000 inhabitants. Belarus: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Bulgaria: Towns, that is, localities legally established as urban. Czech Republic: Localities with 2 000 or more inhabitants. Estonia: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Finland: Urban communes. 1970: Localities. France: Communes containing an agglomeration of more than 2 000 inhabitants living in contiguous houses or with not more than 200 metres between houses, also communes of which the major portion of the population is part of a multicommunal agglomeration of this nature. Greece: Population of municipalities and communes in which the largest population centre has 10 000 or more inhabitants. Including also the population of the 18 urban agglomerations, as these were defined at the census of 1991, namely: Greater Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra, Iraklio, Volos, Chania, Irannina, Chalkida, Agrinio, Kalamata, Katerini, Kerkyra, Salamina, Chios, Egio, Rethymno, Ermoupolis, and Sparti. Hungary: Budapest and all legally designated towns. Iceland: Localities of 200 or more inhabitants. Ireland: Cities and towns including suburbs of 1 500 or more inhabitants. Latvia: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Lithuania: Urban population refers to persons who live in cities and towns, i.e., the population areas with closely built permanent dwellings and with the resident population of more than 3 000 of which 2/3 of employees work in industry, social infrastructure and business. In a number of towns the population may be less than 3 000 since these areas had already the states of “town” before the law was enforced (July 1994) Netherlands: Urban: Municipalities with a population of 2 000 and more inhabitants. Semi-urban: Municipalities with a population of less than 2 000 but with not more than 20 per cent of their economically active male population engaged in agriculture, and specific residential municipalities of commuters. Norway: Localities of 200 or more inhabitants. Poland: Towns and settlements of urban type, e.g. workers' settlements, fishermen’s settlements, health resorts. Portugal: Agglomeration of 10 000 or more inhabitants. Republic of Moldova: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Romania: Cities, municipalities and other towns. Russian Federation: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. Slovakia: 138 cities with 5 000 inhabitants or more. Spain: Localities of 2 000 or more inhabitants. Switzerland: Communes of 10 000 or more inhabitants, including suburbs. Ukraine: Cities and urban-type localities, officially designated as such, usually according to the criteria of number of inhabitants and predominance of agricultural, or number of non-agricultural workers and their families. OCEANIA American Samoa: Agglomerations of 2 500 or more inhabitants, generally having population densities of 1 000 persons per square mile or more. Two types of urban areas: urbanized areas of 50 000 or more inhabitants and urban clusters of at least 2 500 and less than 50 000 inhabitants. (As of Census 2000, no urbanized areas are identified in American Samoa.) Guam: Agglomerations of 2 500 or more inhabitants, generally having population densities of 1 000 persons per square mile or more, referred to as “urban clusters”. New Caledonia: Nouméa and communes of Païta, Nouvel Dumbéa and Mont-Dore. New Zealand: All cities, plus boroughs, town districts, townships and country towns with a population of 1 000 or more. Northern Mariana Islands: Agglomerations of 2 500 or more inhabitants, generally having population densities of 1 000 persons per square mile or more. Two types of urban areas: urbanized areas of 50 000 or more inhabitants and urban clusters of at least 2 500 and less than 50 000 inhabitants. Vanuatu: Luganville centre and Vila urban.

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development Urbanization and decentralization

I agree with the idea that decentralization of population should be promoted simultaneously with urbanization. It is imperative in the case of my country Japan, where impacts of global warming have stated to bite and disasters like typhoons and floods have devastated many rural areas over the past two years. Since disasters tend to hit the same areas and climate change is likely to make them more severe, and since reconstruction of disaster-stricken areas takes time due to huge national government debts, what follows would be influx of population to urban areas, mainly to Tokyo, which already has about one-tenth of the total population. Meanwhile, great earthquakes right under Tokyo and in the Nankai region, another highly concentrated area, are predicted to occur at the rate of 70 % in 30 years. Improving infrastructures of middle-sized regional cities could mitigate the ensuing problems.

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development Part 5

Overcoming social divide is essential in sustainable development. Well-planned infrastructure  and layout can avoid social divide. It realizes shared economy, which gives mobility to everyone and allow everyone to use public and private services. People can rent places to live in without much money, so that communities will be more diverse. Sustainable transportation system will get rid of automobiles and revitalize urban communities. Cities, with universities, are where innovation happen. In two decades, not only already developed areas but also Africa, south Asia, Latin America, and other parts of the world will also have hubs for innovation. Cities are where cutting-edge businesses tie up with universities conducting advanced researches. Cities will nurture higher education and businesses, which will create jobs and tackle climate change. This will make it possible for humans to attain SDGs.

• How can cities, as mixed-use environments, continue to foster the growth of universities and similar centers of learning and innovation? Why are these knowledge centers found most often in urban settings? What does this mean for the development of sustainable cities? - New ideas and products developed in cities, especially at universities, are used to improve the lives of those not only in cities but also in the countryside. With strong infrastructure and abundant resources, cities also provide stable environment for researches. Thus necessity to cope with the common challenge of the mankind will naturally make cities foster the growth of universities and other institutions.
  
  
• How can the internet and the network of e-Everything connect these centers of innovation to create more sustainable solutions across larger physical and social distances? How can this collaboration help to achieve the goals of social inclusion, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability? -The internet and the network of e-Everything streamline, and save, the use of energy and other resources and make shared economy possible. Electric cars and MaaS (Mobility as a Service) will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and allow people  start commuting to or living near their work places with little or no capital. The Internet and e-Everything will also provide more opportunities for those who are disadvantaged by allowing them more access to public services. In education, wiping out digital divide means giving equal opportunities to all children. These more sustainable and more inclusive societies will make more people happier and this will lead to economic development and higher environmental sustainability.

国際教養学部AO入試 reference: gender equality, violence to women, Shiori Ito

伊藤詩織さんの「勝訴」になぜ世界は騒ぐのか

12/27(金) 5:50配信

https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/article?a=20191227-00321942-toyo-soci

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development Part 2

Why cities? The importance of SDG 11

More than half of the world population live in cities. The population in cities around the world surpassed that in rural areas sometime around 2007 because urbanization is a very deep part of economic development.

Now 55 % of us live in urban areas and by the year 2050, 70 % of us will be in urban areas. Cities are important because they are where most of us live and preponderance of economic activities takes place. Economies develop from those based in rural areas to those based in urban areas and populations increase in urban areas. Productivity is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. About 75 to 80 % of annual income is generated in urban areas.

Because of high agricultural productivity, most of the labor force will become industrial. Now around 70% of a country is in cities all over the world except in Asia and Africa, where the situation will be the same in two or three decades. Another 2.5 million people will be in urban areas by 2050. There will be mega-cities with tens of millions of population. Moat of the high-income cities will not be in Africa and Asia. Making sure that new mega-cities in Asia sustainable is essential.

SDGs are to be used for it. Professor Saches refers to the wisdom of John F. Kenedy on goal setting, that is, gpal-setting is a way to inspire people, and make all of us work together towards the objective of our well-being: "By defining our goal more clearly, by making it seem more manageable and less remote, we can help all peoples to see it, to draw hope from it, and to move irresistibly towards it." Professor Saches likes the idea by making the goal more manageable, then we help people to see that the goals are not just empty words but something that is within reach.

SDG 11 and other related goals need to be made more manageable and less remote, so that people can draw hope from them, and all parts of the world move irresistible move towards them.

Homework

• How does the rise in urbanization impact sustainable development? How does it impact specific areas of sustainable development such as land-use change, global emissions, social equity and more? - Cities are where more than half the world's population live and urban areas use most of the energy and produce most of the waste products. Urbanization change farms and ranches into industrial and commercial districts and emit a large amount of CO2. It makes income gaps wider and lower the quality of a large part of the population.
• How does globalization and the increasing interconnection of societies and trade across the world affect the growth of mega-cities? - Today's cities are intertwined through trading, and this help them grow together, avoiding conflicts and wars, although this interconnectivity can adversely affect in times of recession or serious disasters.

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development Part 1

17 Sustainable Development Goals up through the year 2030 were set by UN on September 25th, 2015, followed by the Paris Climate Agreement, whose goal is to counteract global warming.

The three core objectives of SDGs are economic progress, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

Learning 17 SDGs by heart is homework Professor Sachs would like to give to the world.
SDG 1 is to end extreme poverty.
SDG2 is to end hunger.
SDG 3 is to ensure universal health coverage and end needless death and suffering from treatable or preventable diseases.
SDG 4 is universal access to education at least through the secondary level.
SDG 5 is to accomplish gender equality.
SDG 6 is to secure enough clean water.
SDG 7 is to create sustainable, clean energy.
SDG 8 is decent jobs for all.
SDG 9 is to promote industry, innovation, and infrastructure especially in developing countries.
SDG 10 is the reduction of inequalities within and among countries.
SDG 11 is to create sustainable cities and communities.
SDG 12 is to realize circular economy, or sustainable consumption and production.
SDG 13 is climate action, or implementing the Paris Clime Agreement.
SDG 14 is to protect life below water.
SDG 15 is to protect life on land.
SDG 16 is to achieve peaceful and just societies.
SDG 17 is for all countries to collaborate to achieve these goals.

SDG 11, urban agenda, runs through all 17 SDGs.

HW

• What is the role of international agreements, such as the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement, in sustainable development? What types of outcomes and actions comes from them? - International agreements raise awareness of the public on the related issues and make people think seriously about them. It promotes the governments, business, and universities to work on the issues. They also bring hope that countries will be able to corporate to attain mutual goals.
• How could your city be more sustainable? What can you do (take mass transit, recycle, etc.) to lessen your city's impact on the environment and social challenges? - I work in Tokyo. It should stop depending on fossil fuels by installing solar panels on each building and supplying individual generators in preparation for disasters. It has enough public transportation, but it should promote the use of electric cars more. Recycling has been in place, but there should be more to be done for responsible consumption. For example, to reduce or change our use of home delivery services would lessen the burden on truck drivers and the environment. There are systems for consumers to pick up their order at the shop, delivery station, or a designated convenience store. We should use the system more often.
• What are the benefits and challenges of implementing the SDGs at the city level?  - By implementing the SDGs will improve city life because SDGs are closely related to agendas cities have. Cities have tackled poverty (SDG 1), hunger(SDG 2), health issues (SDG 3), and educational gaps (SDG 4). Cities offer places to attain gender equality (SDG 5) as the urban environment is less conservative. Providing clean water (SDG 6) and sustainable, clean energy (SDG 7) is a basic responsibility of the municipality. Job issues (SDG 8) are mainly the issues of cities, where most of the population gather for a decent job and a better life. Innovation occurs in cities and infrastructure is the foundation of the function of a city (SDG 9). The gap between the rich and the poor is severe in cities, so reduction of inequality (SDG 10) is the permanent agenda of cities. Sustainable city (SDG 11) is SDG of the city itself. Circular economy (SDG 12) is important for the future city economy. Softening the impacts of global warming (SDG 13) such as tackling the sea level rise or protecting life below water  (SDG 14) and life on land (SDG 15) is necessary to maintain cities, especially in food supply. Peaceful and just society (SDG 16) should be realized in cities as most people live there and for all these issues to be achieved, the world have to collaborate (SDG 17) to achieve the goals. In terms of drawbacks, securing enough budget will be the challenges of implementing the SDGs. Probably the vicious cycle is there: inability to work on SDGs due to small budget which is due to impacts of climate change and unsustainable economy. In addition, SDGs that are related to economic progress can be more prioritized over those that are related to inclusiveness and sustainability as has ever been.

Fundamental Grammar Extra Questions

Voice

1.     Mom prepares food every day.

= Food (                 ) (                 ) by Mom every day.

2.     Mom is preparing food now.

= Food (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) by Mom now.

3.     Mom has been preparing food for the party for three hours.

= Food for the party (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) by Mom for three hours.

4.     Dad can prepare food.

= Food (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) by Dad.

5.     They have already prepared food.

= Food (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ).

6.     They were still preparing food when I got home.

= Food (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) when I got home.

7.     They had already prepared food when I offered help.

= Food (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) when I offered help

8.     People often misunderstand minorities.

= Minorities (                 ) (                 ) (                 ).

9.     People often discriminate against minorities,

= Minorities (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ).

10.  People have often misunderstood minorities.

=Minorities (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ).

11.  People have often discriminated against minorities.

= Minorities (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ) (                 ).

Tense 

1.     We got to know each other two years ago.

Two years (             ) (              ) since we got to know each other.

(            ) (             ) two years since we got to know each other.

We (             ) (                 ) each other for two years.

2.     You were studying three hours ago. You were studying two hours ago. You were studying one hour ago. You never took a break and now you are still studying. You (               ) (               ) studying for three hours.

3.     Last year, a big typhoon made a headline. This year, two big typhoons made headlines. Strong typhoons (               ) (            ) (               ) headlines over the couple of years.

4.     I have finished my homework. Actually, when you contacted me three hours ago. I (             ) already (               ) my homework.

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development Part 4

• How can coastal cities prepare for environmental changes such as sea-level rise and increased extreme weather? - One idea is to pump out the sea water, desalt it, and use it for water-shortage problem and/or afforestation. However, this measure consumes a lot of electricity and the salty waste water has negative impacts on the environment according to a BBC podcast report. Another would be to learn from old cities below sea level such as Amsterdam or Venice. Amsterdam uses windmills and Venice is working on a coastal levee. Both ideas are environmentally friendly. The last  is to make huge drainage underground, which is said to have helped save Tokyo during typhoons in 2019 from devastating inundation except for its surrounding areas. Burying power lines underground is important in storm-prone cities to avoid massive blackouts caused by extremely strong winds toppling steel towers and trees, which actually happened in the surrounding areas of Tokyo in 2019.
• Following the example of the collaboration between Quebec and New York City for hydroelectric power, how can cities work together to create clean energy systems and lower greenhouse gas emissions?- Cities can collaborate in peak-cut by sharing electricity. Some cities are highly industrial and need much electricity in the day time while other cities are more residential and the peak time comes in the evening. Directing extra electricity in some cities to other cities in short of electricity can keep use of resources for generation low. Cities can also share information on electricity consumption trends for the same purpose. 
• In addition to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, how can mass public transport and the share-economy contribute to economic and social inclusion? -- Mass public transport and the share-economy allow more people to live a fulfilling life by expanding their mobility, which allows them to have a job, go to school, go to hospital, have access to various cultural, sports, or entertainment facilities, take an excursion, and do many other activities that otherwise they cannot. Mass public transport and the share-economy can even grant the world great people. For example, Michael Obama as a teenage girl commuted by bus to a good high school, which was in the distant area from her community, the South Side, Chicago. That high school education allowed her a good university education and the wonderful, inspiring career. For inclusiveness and development of humanity, good access to what a city offers is essential.

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure is related  not only to new cities but also old cities that have been experiencing extreme weather events and other disasters. For example, Tokyo had its peripheral areas damaged by typhoons and torrential rains. SDG 10 is important for reconstruction.

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development Part 3 Ten Pillars of Sustainable Cities

Summary
1. All electric:  for clean, green energy-efficient system to reduce CO2 emissions
2. Clean energy source:    to be free from fossil fuels
3. Smart grids or IoT:   to use energy efficiently
4. Innovation:  generating new technology and jobs   at universities collaborating with businesses
5. dependence from automobile cities:   trains, bicycles, trails, etc.
6. security:   through inclusiveness
7. share economy:    car and room rental systems
8. E-everything:    various services through the use of the Internet to reduce waste of time and to make access for services fair
9. Inclusive development: development of the whole metropolitan area
10. Environmental resilience: preparation for the impacts of the climate change

HW

• Think about your city. What energy system does your city currently run on, and what would it take to convert your city's infrastructure to clean, green electricity? -- I work in Tokyo and live in one of the suburbs of Tokyo. The population of Tokyo is 13.94 million and the density is 6,354 as of 2019. Tokyo runs on fossil fuels. It has highly developed train and subway systems, but there are enough cars and trucks to pollute the air, too. Our power plants are run mostly by fossil fuels, which account for about 80 % of all the energy sources for electricity generation as of 2016. Natural energy accounts for around 17 %. Before Fukushima nuclear meltdown, as much nuclear energy as fossil fuels in percentage was used, but most nuclear reactors are not in operation now. What we did about energy shortage right after the power plant disaster was to reduce the use of energy. Electricity usage in some areas was restricted for certain hours a day for a while, and about half of the light bulbs on highways and streets were gone.  Shift to LED was done quickly. Using air conditioners moderately has become a norm. I think Japan should work more on hydroelectric and geothermal energy  sources, for we have a lot of rain and volcanoes. Also, as we have big earthquakes, typhoons, and floods, compact generators in store and solar panels on each building will lessen the damages in the aftermath of a disaster. Some railway companies have started coach seat reservation services to accommodate the needs of the aging suburban inhabitants. This new service is part of their projects in view of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which will streamline transportation resources while expanding mobility.

Hello, James. Thank you for your response. Your description of the challenge of your city is impressive. Establishing a stable supply of electricity for over 20 million people would require a lot of efforts... I hope Lagos will soon build a sound, sustainable electricity supply system. 

Hello, M-zed. Your picture of future streets is my dream, too. Shared bikes public bike rental systems with maintenance stations would be nice in some communities, too. Young and healthy people will walk or ride a bike, and those who need help can have mobility thanks to self-driving, electric cars. Everyone can enjoy freer, safer, and cleaner transportation in the future.

Hello, HPDejean.  It seems to me that you already live in a sustainable city. Probably the air of your city is much less polluted than that of mine, a city near Tokyo. Clean air makes vegetable gardening and cycling preferable. Shift to clean energy sources opens the door to a happier life.

• Think about your home or work environment. Imagine a system governed by the Internet of Things. How could you make the appliances and features of that living space work together to create a smarter, greener system?　- If some part of the IoT is in short of energy while another part of it has plenty of it or even wasting it, IoT can coordinate the distribution of the electricity. Also, while no one is at home or work, the network of the place can turn itself off maintaining some important appliances like the refrigerator.
• What can be done to make cities more healthful spaces? Could more parks and plants help to decrease carbon in the atmosphere to make the air more breathable? Can mass public transport and travel by bicycle be encouraged to increase physical activity and decrease pollution?   -  My intuitive guess is that we need a massive amount of green like that of a jungle to decrease carbon in the atmosphere and to make the air more breathable. Also, plants' respiratory systems release CO2 into the atmosphere at night. The reason why we have more oxygen than carbon dioxide in the air is that carbon is buried underground, trapped in waste and dead bodies, which will turn into coal, oil, and natural gas. To stop digging out and burning fossil fuels is imperative for reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere. Therefore, using more public transportation and bicycle should be encouraged. It is good for the health, too, as it makes the air less toxic and our lifestyle less sedentary.

Edx Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable development discussion - Tokyo in 2019

Hello from a country of disasters, Japan. I am taking this course for general knowledge. Concentration of population to Tokyo would be the trend due to climate change although decentralization has been called for in my earthquake-prone country for years. The population of Tokyo is 13.94 million and the density is 6,354 as of 2019, and it is estimated by the government that 23,000 will die if this capital is hit directly by a megaquake, which is long overdue. Also, Tokyo barely escaped having a third of it inundated by water from Typhoon Hagibis this October thanks to a huge drainage the government had prepared, an upstream dam which happened to be empty, and a whim of the typhoon course. Meanwhile, the suburbs and the countryside have already been suffering. While 54,000 evacuees from Fukushima are still scattered around Japan according to the Reconstruction Agency, as unusually strong typhoons and large floods started devastating many areas in this country recently, the number of the displaced will increase. Migration from the countryside to the urban areas cannot be avoided... Speaking of infrastructure, I hope that new cities with many storms will choose to bury power lines. We learned the hard way this year that a typhoon can topple steel towers as well as trees, which then tear down power lines, causing massive blackouts for a few weeks. Although everyone here is for burying power lines, doing it after development costs much. Before I finish, let me share with you two pictures I took at the same spot on the Tama river, which flows along the western border of Tokyo, in 2017 and 2019. They show a fraction of the impacts of the typhoons that Japan has experienced over the past two years.

TOEFL iBT Independent Writing Eating at home or eating out - rewrite -

Writing Topic

Many people like to eat in restaurants on a regular basis. Others would rather eat at home, except on rare occasions. Which approach to dining habits do you choose and why? Support your essay with details and examples. 

☆Let’s Think

1.      Discuss advantages of eating at home and those of eating out.

2.      Which approach to dining habits do you choose and why?

☆Hints for points

Advantages of eating at home and counterargument treatment

1.    It is healthy / good for the (your) health / help (to) keep fit.

2.    It is economical / costs less./ helps save money

3.    It is relaxing / is comfortable / is refreshing / releases your stress.

4.    It helps communication with family.

5.    I can enjoy flavor of Mom’s cooking / learn how to make feast / pass down culture and tradition.

6.    eating out only once in a while makes the event more enjoyable. (“less is more”)

Counterarguments: (1) It takes time to cook. (2) It is boring to eat the same thing every day.

Counter-counterarguments: (1) A simple but well-balanced meal takes only around 30 minutes to prepare. Also, cooking helps you get refreshed because you use the different part of your brain and, if you cook with someone else, you can enjoy interacting with others. (2) Cookbooks and recipes will help make home meal enjoyable.

Advantages of eating out and counterargument treatment

1.    It saves time / allows you to do other things such as homework.

2.    It tastes better than home-cook meals / offers variety.

3.    It promotes social life / is a good opportunity to learn manners.

4.    It makes life more enjoyable. (“spices up” your life)

Counterargument: Foods served in restaurants are unhealthy.

Counter-counterargument: There are plenty of restaurants that serve healthy food. Also, “on a regular basis” does not mean every single meal. Good breakfast and fruit for snacks can make up for important nutrients lacking in purchased food.

☆Sample Body Structures

A

【Point 1】It is good for the health to cook yourself.

【Point 2】Having a good time with family over dinner is important.

【Counterargument-treatment】Eating out might be exciting, but the truth is that life is a series of unremarkable moments with occasional pleasant times. To eat the same kind of homemade meals with your folks every day makes it more delightful to eat at a restaurant for a special event.

B

【Merits of Eating at Home】It is good for the health to eat at home.

【Merits of Eating Out】By eating out, you can use time effectively and reduce stress.

【My Choice】My family are all busy working and studying, so I prefer to dine in restaurants on a regular basis. We can enjoy cooking together at home on holidays,

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

【Point 1】

e.g.

【Point 2】

e.g.

【Point 3 / Counterargument-treatment】

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】

☆Paragraph development

Sample 1

【Main Idea】It is good for the health to cook yourself.

【Transition】Fresh and safe ingredients can be used for home meals.

【Supporting Details】For example, you can buy meat and vegetables at a store of your own choice right before you cook. On the other hand, restaurants often use frozen food, which is not fresh and has chemicals. This is especially true in seasoning. At home, you can make broth using natural food, but restaurants often use ready-made soup stock containing additives and preservatives.

【Follow-up】Tighter regulations on food have made restaurant food healthier than before, but businesses prioritize cutting costs. At least you know what you are eating when you prepare dishes for yourself.

【Conclusion】By cooking for yourself, you can make sure that you stay healthy.

Sample 2

【Main Idea】&【Transition】 Eating out regularly livens up life because it helps you socialize with others.

【Supporting Details】Having conversation over lunch or dinner surrounded by other relaxed diners helps you see people and life positively. Going to a familiar Chinese restaurant with your beloved makes you feel comfortable. Tying a new Italian dish with your friends is exciting. Each of such times is a precious moment of life.

【Follow-up】This habit might seem morally wrong to some people, but eating in restaurants on a regular basis does not mean going out to eat three times a day. Allowing oneself an hour of good mealtime a few times a week is neither an extravagance nor indulgence. It is a lifestyle.

【Conclusion】Man does not live to eat but eat to live.

Your Sample Paragraph Development

Choose one of the points of your essay structure, and develop it. You can either use or not use the form below..

【Main Idea】

【Transition】

【Supporting Details】

【Follow-up】 

【Conclusion】