Learn from Curitiba | sustainable urban planning

 Introduction

Curitiba is often praised as a model for sustainable urban planning due to its innovative approaches to transportation, green spaces, waste management, and social development. The city's success in sustainable urban growth can be attributed to its long-term commitment to integrated planning and citizen engagement. For example, Curitiba's public transportation system, known as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), is widely recognized as one of the most efficient and sustainable systems in the world. The BRT features dedicated bus lanes, well-designed stations, and prepaid boarding, reducing congestion and promoting public transportation usage. Curitiba also has over 50 square meters of green space per inhabitant, including parks, botanical gardens, and urban forests. These areas not only provide recreational opportunities but also contribute to improved air quality and biodiversity conservation. The city’s recycling program encourages residents to exchange recyclable materials for fresh produce, promoting waste reduction and community engagement.

Photo from:https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/06/story-of-cities-37-mayor-jaime-lerner-curitiba-brazil-green-capital-global-icon

In addition, Curitiba's urban also planning policies focus on mixed land use, compact development, and the preservation of historical buildings. This approach helps to minimize urban sprawl, reduce commuting distances, and preserve the city's cultural heritage. The city has implemented programs to tackle social issues, such as poverty alleviation, affordable housing, and education. For example, the "Lighthouse Project" provides education and job training to vulnerable populations. Moreover, as education is a one of the essential factors of promoting sustainable practices, Curitiba has implemented educational programs in schools and community centers to promote sustainable practices, waste reduction, and environmental stewardship.

I reckon that Curitiba's sustainable urban planning is accurate and highlights many of the city's notable achievements. As it has indeed been widely praised for its innovative approaches to transportation, green spaces, waste management, and social development. Its integrated planning and citizen engagement have played a crucial role in its success. Curitiba also serves as a model for sustainable urban planning, showcasing the benefits of long-term commitment, integrated planning, and citizen engagement. The city's success in various aspects of sustainability can provide valuable lessons for other cities around the world.

The BRT System

One of the most significant changes in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, that has greatly influenced its livability, cleanliness, and sustainability is the implementation of an innovative urban planning concept known as the "Integrated Transportation System" or "Bus Rapid Transit" (BRT) system. Curitiba's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has been widely regarded as a successful and innovative approach to urban transportation. It has received praise for its ability to address multiple challenges such as congestion, air pollution, and inefficient public transportation. It created a network of dedicated bus lanes and stations that efficiently transport large numbers of passengers across the city, reducing congestion and air pollution caused by private vehicles. The BRT system integrates various transportation modes, including buses, light rail, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

Unlike other transit systems, the BRT system in Curitiba utilizes a prepaid boarding system, where passengers pay their fares at the bus stations rather than on the bus itself. This enables quicker boarding and reduces transit time. Another notable aspect of Curitiba's BRT system is that it implemented a zoning plan that concentrated higher-density development along the bus routes, encouraging people to live and work near the stations. This approach reduces the need for long commutes, promotes mixed land use, and supports compact urban development. By prioritizing public transportation over private cars which lead to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality, it also contributed to the preservation of green spaces.

The Next Steps

Curitiba, known for its innovative urban planning and sustainable development practices, has set a remarkable example for cities around the world. However, like all cities around the world, it has to continue moving forward. For example, as the city grows, there is a need to further expand and improve. Artificial intelligence (AI) will be helpful and also necessary for the coming decades. The city can integrate multiple new technologies, such as electric buses or AI, to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the overall efficiency of the transportation system. In addition, as the population grows, this city will need more and more buildings and houses. To continue their focus on sustainable development, Curitiba may implement stricter green building standards and incentivize the construction of eco-friendly buildings. Moreover, urban agriculture and food Security are the significant issues that all cities have. They all have to make tough decision on allocating limited land to balance food security and sustainable development. The land-allocation issues is also associated with biodiversity conservation. To preserve its biodiversity, the city could create additional green spaces, protect natural habitats. However, it seems the city are facing more and more challenges on balancing rapid grows with sustainable practice. The specific next project should be determined through careful analysis, stakeholder consultation, and consideration of the city's unique needs and challenges. Curitiba's commitment to sustainable development and quality urban planning positions it well for future advancements that will benefit both its residents and the environment.

Learn from Curitiba

Before we can adapt any of the planning, projects, policy, education programs, or changes Curitiba have made to upgrade sustainable development in Taiwan, let’s compare them in different aspects. Taiwan and Curitiba are two distinct entities with different geographical locations, political statuses, and cultural backgrounds. Politically, Taiwan operates as a separate political entity with its own government, economy, and borders. Curitiba is the capital city of the state of Paraná in Brazil. It is a part of the Brazilian federal system and operates as a municipality within the country.

Taiwan is an island nation located in East Asia, off the southeastern coast of mainland China. It is surrounded by the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the Philippine Sea. Curitiba is a city in Brazil, located in the southern part of the country. It is situated inland and has a relatively mild climate. With approximately 24 million population, Taiwan has far higher population density compare to Curitiba, which is around 1.9 million. In economy, Taiwan has a highly export-oriented economy known for its advanced technology industry, manufacturing, and electronics exports. On the other hand, Curitiba has a diverse economy, with sectors including manufacturing, services, and agriculture. While Taiwan and Curitiba have different political statuses and geographical locations, both places have unique characteristics and contribute to their respective regions in terms of culture, economy, and sustainable development.

Now, let’s discuss which planning, projects, policies, education programs, and changes implemented in Curitiba could work well in Taiwan. Generally, I think it is not such a thing that we can just copy and paste all the practice and policies. Therefore, here we are discussing learning instead of implementing. I believe that some aspects that may be applicable. For example, Taiwan could consider adopting a similar system, especially in densely populated urban areas, to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. Curitiba's emphasis on pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and dedicated cycling lanes could inspire Taiwan to prioritize active mobility. 

Like Curitiba, Taiwan could establish stricter green building standards and incentives to encourage sustainable construction practices. This would help reduce energy consumption and promote renewable energy integration. In addition, Taiwan could also learn from Curitiba's experience in promoting urban agriculture and community gardens. Encouraging rooftop gardens, supporting urban farming initiatives, and facilitating access to fresh, locally grown produce would enhance food security, foster community engagement, and promote sustainable lifestyles. And, most importantly, education is where all good ideas started. Curitiba's focus on environmental education has played a significant role in fostering sustainable behavior among its residents. Taiwan could adopt similar educational initiatives at various levels, including schools, community centers, and public campaigns, to raise awareness about environmental issues, sustainable practices, and the importance of conservation.

Finally, it is important to note that while these ideas have the potential to work well in Taiwan, local adaptation and customization are crucial. Considering Taiwan's unique cultural, social, and geographical context, it would be necessary to conduct thorough assessments, engage stakeholders, and tailor the approaches to suit the specific needs and challenges of Taiwanese cities.

Reference

Mw. (2021, March 2). Curitiba City, a model in Sustainable Urban Planning. Sustainable Waste Management. https://viablealternativenergy.com/curitiba-city/ 

United Nations. (n.d.). Sustainable Urban Planning (Curitiba City) .:. sustainable development knowledge platform. United Nations. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=99&nr=57& 

Guardian News and Media. (2016a, May 6). Story of cities #37: How radical ideas turned curitiba into Brazil’s “Green Capital.” The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/may/06/story-of-cities-37-mayor-jaime-lerner-curitiba-brazil-green-capital-global-icon