Limits to Growth: Urban growth and environmental degradation in the Capital area in Iceland

Kristinsdóttir, Andrea

4. Term

Urban, Energy and Environmental Planning, Master

2015

2015-05-30

112 pages

This project addresses the problem of increased environmental degradation, whereas humanity is having increasingly more effect on the ecological environment. It considers the urban environment because it is one of the most, if not the most, resource demanding aspect of society. This project discusses how urban growth and urban development in the Capital area has made the region increasingly less sustainable and further brings forward the ideology of degrowth as a way of decreasing environmental degradation caused by the region. In terms of degrowth, the limits to growth for social, economic and environmental aspects are discussed. Further, structural characteristics for decreasing environmental degradation are presented. This project discusses how the limits to growth can be conceptualized in terms of urban planning and sustainable development. In terms of this, how sustainable development; and economic and urban growth are generally perceived and how they are limiting for one another. It analyses how the building stock and transportation in the Capital area have developed since the mid-20th century, and more specifically leading up to the financial crisis, and how this influences sustainability, by looking at indicators for urban development that indicate the level of environmental degradation caused per capita. This project further discusses how degrowth can be implemented in the case of the Capital area in order to move closer to goals of sustainability. In terms of urban development, implementing structures that result in less environmental degradation.

sustainable development ; degrowth ; economic growth ; environmental degradation ; urban planning ; urban growth ; ecological limits

Download
View record in AAU Student Projects