How can settlements be more sustainable?

• Humanities
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Where do we live?

Statement of Inquiry: Settlements develop and change due to a variety of processes and their sustainability allows them to function successfully, affecting the identity of that location.

Key Concept: Change

Related Concepts: Processes; Sustainability

Global Context: Identities and relationships 

How can settlements be more sustainable? 

This class, you wil lear about how settlements can be more sustainable. 

The litertal translation of sustainability in Dutch is 

duurzaamheid. 

In the next wordcloud, fill in any word you think of when considering the key-word: sustainable city.

Sustainable City

Translate the following statement to Dutch:
"In the planning and designing of new communities, housing projects and urban renewal, the planners need to give consideration to the kind of world that is being created for the children who will be growing up in these setting".

How can settlements be more sustainable? 

Read the text on p. 94 and check out Figure 4.21 about sustainable practices for cities. 

On the next slide, drag the pictures on to the right sustainable practice. 

You can zoom in on the pictures to enlarge! 

Energy efficiency 

Green spaces (parks/rooftop gardening)

Reuse of old industrial sites

Higher quality public transport systems

Walkability and cycling schemes

Increased use of local farming 

How can settlements be more sustainable? 

Watch the next video about Copenhagen, the captial of Denmark. 

Copenhagen is a good example of a sustainable city. In the video you will see how the city is doing that. 

During the video, answer the questions. 

01:09

What does carbon neutrality actually mean?

01:40

Why does taking a bike reduce carbon emissions?

02:04

Why could people not swim in the Copenhagen harbor before?

02:50

How is de temperature in the houses of Copenhagen being warmed up or cooled down?

03:24

What kind of problems is Street Lab trying to solve?

03:59

How does Copenhagen deal with air polution?

04:47

Why are the people of Copenhagen so important in making the city sustainable?

How can settlements be more sustainable? 

Frankfurt was recently named as the most sustainable city in the world owing to its practices that look to improve the quality of life for people living there. 

Answer the question on the next slide.

Make a list of at least 5 practices the city of Frankfurt is doing to improve the quality of live for the people who live there.

Think about how the school can be more sustainable. Make a list of actions you can do to improve the sustainabilty of the school. Think about energy use, environmental impact and projects/effort students and teachers need to do.