KISS—Keeping it Simply Sustainable The importance of a working set of Sustainability Indicators for the WA planning system Professor John Glasson, Oxford Brookes University, UK Curtin University, WA April 2009 1 2 3 4 Also first ‘Fairtrade University’ ‘Local’ food initiative 5 But Perth and WA have so many excellent sustainability features—but also sustainability problems like other cities 6 But how do we assess sustainability performance? And shouldn’t this be a central feature of the WA planning system? 7 PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION • to report on recent research activities, for WA DPI, on developing a set of performance indicators for a sustainable WA Planning System ( regional and local) • to set in context of work in UK for European Investment Bank (EIB) on developing a set of Social Sustainability Indicators for urban areas (JESSICA Project) 8 STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION 1. Context – key drivers 2. Indicators of sustainability 3. Some comparative practice-brief overview 4. Towards a comprehensive QBL approach 5 Narrowing down to a land use planning focus 6. Implementation/next steps 9 1. CONTEXT – KEY DRIVERS - International/national - Climate change and sustainability— IGPCC/ Stern/ Garnaut —an inconvenient truth, but major benefits of strong early action - Sustainability is a global movement; . from TBL to QBL (quadruple bottom line) • importance of a sustainability hierarchy • importance of assessing performance in relation to sustainability issues-indicators and targets; adaptive management; especially for planning system 10 Importance of Synergy Hierarchy of Sustainability From TBL to QBL 11 WA government – drivers and responses • Importance of Outcome Based Management in WA Public Sector-2004 guidelines highlight importance of performance against KPIs, to be determined in consultation with key stakeholders • Specific Department /Agency drivers eg -DPC (2003) Better Planning Services -DPC (2003) State Sustainability Strategy -DPI (2005/6) Outcome/ Service Structure -EPA (2006/2007) State of Environment Report -Landcorp (2006) Sustainability Report • Premier’s (May 2007) policy document on ‘Making Decisions for the Future: Climate Change’ 12 Some key reports 13 2. INDICATORS OF SUSTAINABILITY Indicators: need and nature ‘An Indicator is something that helps you understand where you are, which way you are going and how far you are from where you want to be. A good indicator alerts you to a problem before it gets too bad, and helps you to recognise what needs to be done to fix the problem’ (Hart, 2000) Constraints to date : institutional and methodological ‘traditional’ (e.g. GDP) or more ‘sustainable’ (e.g. number of green jobs); simple (eg. Air quality) or more complex (e.g. Environmental Footprint; Index of Economic Welfare)? need to compromise in choice of effective indicators 14 State Sustainability Strategy, DPC 2003 ‘ With a few exceptions, many integrative sustainability indicators have yet to be tested with any scientific rigour and, as such, lack the robustness to be applicable at the State or regional level. Until such time that integrative sustainability indicators are more fully developed, a TBL reporting approach will provide a useful indication of WA’s progress to sustainability. Accordingly, the WA Government is looking to develop headline sustainability indicators to demonstrate WA’s progress across the TBL and to assist with informing the community’. 15 Some other characteristics of good Sustainability Indicators • be fit for purpose • avoid indicator overload • be clear, understandable, reliable and generally measurable (what gets measured gets managed) • reveal direction of performance • be cascadeable through the WA planning system, and aid benchmarking with national/international indicator sets • have scope to adapt 16 3 SOME COMPARATIVE PRACTICE Ideas from comparative practice Key structuring elements • Scope (eg from narrow Environmental to wide QBL) • Indicators and Targets • Spatial basis 17 OECD--PSR indicators by environmental issues (includes ‘sink oriented’ issues, dealing with environmental quality; and ‘resource-oriented’ dealing with quantity of natural resources) Issue Pressure Indicator State Indicator Response Indicator Climate change •index of greenhouse gas emissions •CO2 emissions •atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases •global mean temperature •energy efficiency •energy intensity •energy mix •economic and fiscal instruments Water resources •intensity of use •frequency, duration and extent of shortages •water prices and user charges for sewage treatment Source: OECD (1996) 18 UK/EU • National headline indicator categories (UK Sustainable Development Commission, 2004) Economic growth Investment Employment Poverty Education Health Housing Crime Greenhouse gas emissions Air quality Road traffic River water quality Wildlife Land use Waste 19 • Examples of objectives, indicators and targets for SE England (Integrated Regional Framework) Objective Indicator Target 12 To address the causes of climate change through reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and ensure that the SE is prepared for its impacts a. Emissions of greenhouse gases from energy consumption, transport and land use and waste management. By 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from activities within the region by 60%. 19 To increase energy efficiency, and the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources in the region. a. Energy use p.c. b. Installed capacity for energy production from renewable sources. By 2020, install 620MW of renewable energy (5.5% of generation capacity). 21 To sustain economic growth and competitiveness across the region a. GVA p.c. To narrow the gap in GVA p.c. between the best and worst performing parts of the region 20 Source: SEERA (2004) Building in the Socio-Economic Dimension on a Spatial Basis in the UK eg via Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 21 22 Rotterdam (NL)—recent(2008) example of the Social Index 23 Dimensions and Sub-Dimensions of Social Quality 24 Presentation of findings (for each of 64 city districts) 25 An alternative display approach for specific areas 26 AUSTRALIA • National: ‘Measuring Australia’s Progress 2005’ (ABS 2005/6) – key indicator sets – health (life expectancy) – education and training (non-school qualifications) – work (unemployment rate) – – – – – national income financial hardship national wealth housing productivity - - - natural landscape human environ. (eg air quality) oceans and estuaries international environ. concerns (eg greenhouse gas emissions) family, community and social cohesion (eg % voluntary work) crime democracy, governance and citizenship 27 NSW State Planning Strategy (2006) Includes attempts to provide clear and measurable indicators, for example: Priorities Target Reduced rates of crime Reduce property crime by 15% by 2016 A reliable electricity supply with increased use of renewables Achieve 15% renewable energy consumption by 2020 Cleaner air and progress on greenhouse gas reductions Cut greenhouse emissions by 60% by 2050 Housing affordability Ensure a supply of land and a mix of housing that meets demand 28 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Constraints of competing perspectives eg: from – complex – URS study (2004) for WA SSS (DPC) – pragmatic narrow focus – eg for housing (2005) (Landcorp) 29 Extract from URS study on ‘Draft headline Indicators’ (URS 2004) Dimensions of sustainability Headline indicator (outcome) • Environmental protection • Social advancement • Biodiversity conservation in the State’s ecosystems • Human, social and community well-being • Economic prosperity • Economic health and competitiveness • Social value of environmental protection • Economic value of environmental protection • Economic value of social advancement • Environmental value of social advancement • Environmental value of economic prosperity • Social value of economic prosperity • Social benefits from the environment • Resource use efficiency • Index of Sustainable Functionality • Trends in natural, social, individual and economic systems 30 • Economic benefits from social activities • Environmental benefits from social activities • Environmental benefits from social activities • Social benefits from economic activity Landcorp WA Land Authority, has been working with builders and local authorities to achieve affordable sustainable housing with the features of: • • • • • • Water conservation Energy efficiency Resource and waste management Liveability Accessibility, and Affordability 31 Extract from Landcorp current indicator/project list 32 Network City-some key drivers • make fuller use of urban land (eg. 60% of required dwellings in existing urban areas) • nurture the environment • encourage public over private transport • align transport systems and land use to optimise accessibility and amenity • strengthen local sense of place • develop strategies which deliver local jobs • provide for affordable housing 33 WA State of Environment Report (2006/07) ‘Human Settlements’ theme includes • • • • • Settlement patterns Transport Water use in settlements Energy use in settlements Waste generation and disposal Stresses importance of measuring, monitoring and reporting on environmental impacts of WA’s settlements Includes objectives and indicators (mixture of Pressure, State and Response) 34 4. TOWARDS A COMPREHENSIVE QBL APPROACH DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE SUSTAINABILITY CHECKLIST FOR THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PLANNING SYSTEM Keeping it Simply Sustainable Professor John Glasson Visiting Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA Co-director, Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development, Oxford Brookes University, UK July 2005 35 • possible way forward Key Dimensions (QBL) Structured into various indicator types Environmental sustainability Supporting indicators Social advancement Headline/Core indicators Economic prosperity Sustainable governance 36 • headline/core indicator set Economic prosperity economic growth employment and unemployment economic diversification disparities/poverty innovation Social advancement crime and safety health education and skills housing accessibility to services well being Environmental sustainability climate change and energy use air quality water use waste management public transport land use and abuse sustainable building Sustainable governance democratic participation community participation international responsibilities 37 • examples for economic prosperity (to achieve a sustainable economy Objective Indicator Target 2 To sustain economic growth and competitiveness GRP or GVA per cap To sustain levels of growth; to narrow regional spatial differences in WA by 50% by 2020 5 To reduce income disparities ? Supplementary, more sustainable, indicators (eg) • % local jobs • Growth in ‘green jobs’ • Increase in Aboriginal employment ? 38 • examples for social advancement (achieve a strong, healthy and just society) Objective Indicator Target 7 To reduce crime and improve safety Trends in crime To reduce in line rates (eg burglaries with national per 1000 popn pa) targets 8 To improve health and well being ? ? Supplementary, more sustainable, indicators. Eg. • Fear of crime • Social Capital Index • Access to internet • Racial harmony 39 • examples of environmental sustainability (living within environmental limits) 12 16 Objective Indicator Target To address causes of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions Emission of greenhouse gases from energy consumption, transport etc. % energy from renewable sources 12% reduction in stationary energy use by 2006-07 (on 2001-02 base) To minimise use of open land for development ? ? ? Supplementary more sustainable, indicators (eg) ecological footprint traffic safety ‘slow food’ % of 4 WDs 40 • examples of sustainable governance (promoting good governance) Objective 21 22 To increase local democratic participation To increase local community participation Indicator ? % volunteering at least 50 hours pa Target ? 50% by 2010 Supplementary list eg. • Social justice; fair go; equity index • accountability 41 5. NARROWING DOWN TO A LAND USE PLANNING APPROACH Categories/themes-Environment + • • • Driven by WA SoE Human Settlements categories Settlements/Transport/Water/Energy/Waste + Biodiversity/Housing/limited other Socio-Economic Overarching Climate Change objective and target • • world wide scientific opinion suggests global emissions cuts of at least 50-60% needed by 2050 (on 2000 base) . WA government target is 60% cut from current 71 m tonnes pa (2007) to 26 m tonnes (2050); and 20% cut by 2020? Sources of specific targets –as grounded as possible Focus on regional and local levels; urban-rural issues Tested in Stakeholder workshops and presentations to WAPC 42 Theme: Settlement Patterns Objectives Indicators Targets Manage urban growth to limit sprawl through: area of land used for urban development increasing efficiency of land uses in urban areas, Hectares of land per cap. in authority area 60% of new residential development to be on previously developed land improving integration of different land uses and transport, and increasing housing densities. Improve accessibility to workplace, services and facilities % of population living within 10 mins of a major public transp. route (Metro Perth) av/pa.net residential densities of new housing developments % of households at set distances from key services add % increase in net residential density of? or increase in proportion of medium &high density lots by? Contextual information Network City and international standard Also National Charter of Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning, 2003 Or proportion of zoned land in Metro Perth that is within 1 km of a major public transport route Average net residential density in Perth Metro is approx 15 per ha. Proportion of medium density lots has increased over time add 43 Theme: Transport Objectives Indicators Targets Contextual information Improve environmental and cost efficiency impacts and increase travel choice of transport in WA by: modal split of passenger kms travelled pa (or modal split of trips undertaken pa ??) double proportion of total journeys using public transport ,and walking and cycling by 2020 Perth Metro current modal split: approx 6% public transport , 11% walking and 2% cycling increasing relative use of public transport and other forms of alternative transport; kms of cycle networks double by 2020 S. Australia Plan includes same target for 2003-2018 period reducing total per unit vehicle kms travelled; and reducing use of transport energy and total vehicle emissions no. of STPs for establishments of over 500 people per day ?? Eg. % of public vehicle fleet which is carbon neutral to add STPs = Sustainable Travel Plans 100% by 2015? 44 Theme : Water Objective Indicator Target To provide a water system to sustain the population, economy and environment of WA, by: reduction of pc water use; was 188 in 2003 trend in pc domestic water consumption or kilolitres of water used per dwelling pa and, maintenance of water quality (eg protect groundwater) reduce from 155 kilolitres (now) to 120 (2012), and to 75(2020) ? 20% improvement in water efficiency—by when? improvement in water use efficiency; increase in proportion of wastewater reclaimed for re-use Contextual information % of waste water reused 20% waste water reuse by 2012 has increased from 2.6% in 2000 to 13.6% in 2006 (2012 target is in State Water Plan ) 45 Theme: Energy Objectives To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy use, through: increasing energy efficiency; and reducing energy reliance on fossil fuels and increasing use of renewable energy Indicators residential energy use pc total GHG generated in total/ by sector Or GHG per ha Targets a clean energy target of 50% by 2010 and 60% by 2020 % energy derived from renewable sources increase renewable energy generation to 6% by 2010, 15% by 2020 and 20% by 2025 (SW system) no of lots with solar access ?? take-up of schemes (eg no. of schools using solar energy) 350 by 2010 Contextual information Premier’s 2007 Climate Change Action Statement 46 Theme: Waste Objectives Indicators Targets Contextual information Facilitating zero waste by 2020 by: minimising waste creation (eg from building and construction); waste disposal rates to landfill, by waste stream (eg % of household waste to landfill pa) zero waste by 2020 allocating land for recycling facilities; and amount of waste material reused and recycled considerable scope for major increase in kg pc recycling (eg by 200% by 2015?) co-locating land uses to support efficient waste management domestic waste production pc pa Between 1999 and 2004 Perth Metro has increased per household recycling from 250kg pa to 400kg pa; similarly non-Metro has increased from 100-250 kg. But these amounts are very low compared with other Australia (eg only 25% of ACT and 50% of NSW). See emerging strategy from WA Waste Management Board. 47 Theme: Biodiversity Objectives to conserve comprehensive, adequate and representative species and ecosystems Indicators Targets Contextual information ha of native vegetation cleared pa for various purposes needed (EPA) Nationally the rate of land cleared pa decreased by about 38% between 1993 and 2003, % of natural bushland held in POS with high quality bio-diversity (?) needed (EPA) In WA average number of hectares cleared pa between 1998 and 2001 was: 500 (in Perth Metro); 20 000 (mining) and 5 000 (agriculture) no. of threatened species and ecological communities % of population living within 400 m of POS > 5000 sqm needed (EPA) Partly covered by target on 60% use of brownfield land, under Settlement Structure? ?? 48 Theme : Housing Objectives Indicators Targets Contextual information To ensure that all families have an affordable dwelling ratio of average dwelling prices to average earnings To reduce ratio by 25% by 2015 ? Currently of the order of 10:1 for Metro Perth % of affordable homes in new developments To provide 30% affordable homes for new developments by 2010 As adopted in pressured local authority areas in the UK mix of dwelling type per authority area ?? To provide a sufficiently diversified and flexible housing stock to meet evolving housing needs To improve resource efficiency of new housing developments proportion of new developments meeting new WA 5-star standard 100% of new dwellings (and 50% of retrofits? ) to be to 5 star standard by 2010 As set out in Premier’s 2007 Action Plan statement (including water efficient systems, provision for grey water recycling etc) 49 Theme: Other Socio-economic (but was concern that not direct role of WA land use planning system ) Objectives Indicators Targets To reduce crime and improve safety trends in crime rates (eg. violent crimes, burglaries etc. per 1000 population pa.) reduce in line with national targets; to reduce property crime by 15% by 2015 (too low?) To improve health and well being and reduce health inequalities life expectancy at birth; death rates from particular causes To minimise environmental health issues associated with location of development To ensure high and stable levels of employment, and to reduce unemployment To reduce income disparities Contextual information See NSW State Plan 2006 increase expectancy (esp. for certain SEGs): to reduce in line with national targets See ABS ‘Measuring Australia’s Progress’ for some national guidance on these indicators rate of long term unemployment to reduce in line with national targets Or % of working age population in employment income disparities between top and bottom 20% reduce by 20% by 2020 ? ?? 50 6.IMPLEMENTATION/ NEXT STEPS • Refine approach; test a ‘working’ indicators and targets set against planning needs (ie check ‘fit for purpose’) • Present to WAPC as way forward ( early 2009) • Pilot/trial at regional and local scales, and in urban and rural contexts • Develop simple guidance package; scope for use of IT • Implement set of simple sustainability indicators and targets • Annual and quinquennial monitoring of performance • Adapt and refine (eg widen scope, develop understandable composite indicators, such as Environmental Footprinting). 51 Themes The indicators have been separated into five distinct themes that the DPI has some influence over: 1. Settlements : the efficiency of land use in regards to housing density and travel distance from services. 2. Transport : the different types of transportation used in the metropolitan and Peel areas. 3. Water : levels of consumption of potable water, the recycling and reuse of wastewater, and groundwater levels from extraction aquifers. 4. Climate Change and Energy (Stationary) : the greenhouse gas emissions from traditional mains energy use, and the planned increase in renewable energy generation capacity. 5. Biological Conservation : how much land is protected as a conservation area for various vegetation complexes. 52 0% Mandurah Murray Serpentine-Jarrahdale Cockburn Kwinana Rockingham Mundaring Swan Armadale Gosnells Stirling Joondalup Wanneroo Kalamunda Bayswater Belmont Canning Melville Subiaco Victoria Park Vincent Bassendean Nedlands Peppermint Grove Perth South Perth Cottesloe East Fremantle Fremantle Mosman Park Cambridge Claremont % population within catchment Indicator S1:% of dwellings within catchment(400m from bus route or 800m from bus / train station) of a public transport node with a peak AM service frequency of less than 15 minutes. Weekday Peak AM 15 minute service 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% Local Government Area 53 Indicator S3:% of new residential development on previously developed land 100% Dwellings Built Outside Urban Extent 80% 70% 60% Dwellings Built on Urban Fringe 50% 40% 30% 20% Dwellings Built Inside Urban Extent 10% 0% 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Proportion of Development 90% Year 54 Indicator W2 Percentage of recovery and re-use of wastewater (2012 target=20%) 14 12 Percent 10 8 6 4 2 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Year 55 Some Final Thoughts—KISS? • Importance of sustainability indicators in our drive to a more sustainable future • Particularly important for the planning system • Advantages of a QBL approach • But importance of making some progress • So, initial narrow-focus DPI steps welcomed – hopefully to be implemented soon? • But need to build on these steps 56 Thankyou for your kind attention 57