Jake Piper

CEA and sustainable development: Evidence from UK case studies

Abstract Cumulative effects assessment (CEA) offers opportunities as a means of moving towards sustainable development. A set of four UK cases of CEA are examined to ascertain the extent to which the principles and tools of sustainable development have been incorporated into the studies. The evidence (derived from case documentation and from stakeholders contacted) suggests that the potential of CEA has not been not fully realized in these cases and there is need for more awareness of what issues must before CEA makes a broader contribution to meeting sustainable development objectives.

Mitigation, Adaptation, and the Threat to Biodiversity

Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY,United Kingdom, email james.paterson@ouce.ox.ac.uk†Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, CSIC, C/Jos´e Gutierrez Abascal 2,Madrid 28006, Spain‡Department of Planning, Oxford Brookes University, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP, United Kingdom

Integration of urban and environmental policies in the metropolitan area of São Paulo and in Greater London: the value of establishing and protecting green open spaces

Whilst major metropolitan areas across the globe share some issues in attempting to improve quality of life for their citizens, other issues are specific to their particular situations of geography and governance. There are some approaches, nevertheless, which may have value in rather different contexts, and in this article the establishment and protection of green open spaces is discussed as a measure to help integrate urban and environmental policies and also to address some climate change impacts. The circumstances and policies of two contrasting metropolitan areas – São Paulo and London – are reviewed to demonstrate both the diversity of challenges that may exist and some of the measures that may be taken; the potential for cross-fertilization of ideas and policies in different urban contexts is then explored. São Paulo has experienced great increases in population and extent since the middle of the twentieth century, with illegal settlements in vulnerable areas and risks including flooding and landslides, as well as inadequate infrastructure systems. London faces risks of overheating, flooding and sea level rise as a result of climate change. Spatial planning policies to maintain and improve environmental functioning and ecosystem services delivery in São Paulo and London are reviewed, considering the relevant hierarchical levels and indicating some specific targets. Protection and expansion of green open spaces in many forms are seen in both cities as important and is incorporated into strategic planning. Barriers to achieving progress on green spaces as part of urban policy are explored and some ways forward are highlighted.