Stay informed with our October Liveable Cities Newsletter! Explore the latest developments in sustainable urban planning and nature-positive initiatives. 

Liveable Cities News & Highlights - October  2024

Written by
Dr Jenni Garden, Principal Consultant - Ecology and Liveable Cities Lead

In this issue of our Liveable Cities Newsletter, we celebrate exciting new developments and innovations in the liveable cities space in Australia and overseas.

We're also excited to announce our sponsorship of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities at the upcoming UNiting Business LIVE Australia event.

If you'd like to receive regular updates on urban nature, biodiversity, innovative city developments & more, subscribe to our Liveable Cities Newsletter today!

Edge Sponsors SDG 11 at UNiting Business LIVE Australia

We're proud to announce our sponsorship of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities at the upcoming UNiting Business LIVE Australia event. This aligns perfectly with our mission to create value through tackling sustainability challenges.

SDG 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable - goals that resonate deeply with our work in urban sustainability.

Cool Suburbs (CS) is Australia’s first heat resilience rating and assessment tool. Developed by Edge Impact together with WSROC and as part of the Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce program initiatives, CS aims to strengthen action on cooling urban areas by guiding evidence-based planning and development decisions at multiple scales across development typologies.

The tool was created through extensive stakeholder engagement, integrating urban heat science expertise, research, and best practices.

The outcome is a voluntary, industry-based performance (rating) tool that assesses place-based urban heat resilience.

It provides a synthesis of urban heat science and practices in an easy-to-use and interpret platform with the goal of supporting improved resilience outcomes.

Read the Science Rationale document or explore the tool here.

The inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit was held in Sydney, Australia from October 8-10, 2024, bringing together over 900 delegates from government, business, research, environmental organisations, civil society, and Indigenous groups.

Co-hosted by the Australian federal and New South Wales State governments, the summit aimed to accelerate collective action to drive investment in nature and strengthen efforts to protect and repair the environment.

Key themes included: realising commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; exploring ways to unlock private sector investment in nature; and, developing metrics to measure progress towards nature positive goals.

While the summit showcased some government initiatives and innovative solutions, it also faced criticism from environmental groups who argued that current policies remain largely "nature negative" despite the rhetoric. The event was seen as an important step in elevating nature and biodiversity alongside climate change as critical global challenges requiring urgent action.

Edge’s very own Alison Rowe (Global CEO) and Sarah Day (Nature Advisory lead) were invited to attend the summit.

Sarah’s five key takeaways from the Global Nature Positive Summit:

1. Engagement isn’t a metric
Engagement isn't something that can be ticked off, it must be collaborative, must inform the way we characterise the problem in the first instance, and must work towards outcomes that support the objectives of all engaged.

2. A nature positive economy isn’t an option, it’s our only option

To achieve the outcomes needed at the scale required, we're talking about a systemic change to how we operate as an economy, a society, as businesses - and to achieve this we need strong leadership and governance, from Government, businesses, and demand from society. This is about shifting what we value - we currently primarily value nature when it's dead - a piece of wood, a piece of meat - rather than the role of the tree in the forest, or the fish in the sea.

3. We need to change our relationship with nature
We need to change our relationship with nature and recognise how inextricable our relationship is. Starting by asking 'What kind of ancestors do we want to be?' and 'If Mother Nature was at the Board table, what would she say?'

4. Local impact, local issue, local solutions - global awareness and problem solving
While nature is hyper regional and we need to look locally when crafting solutions, there's a lot for us to learn from experiences nationally and globally. 

5. Disclose, and…
Disclosure is an element of this nature journey, but cannot be the only focus. Action must be prioritised if we have any chance of achieving the scale of change required. 

Transform the built environment with our integrated sustainability services. From planning to deconstruction, we collaborate with clients for positive change.

Paris Unplugged: From Car Capital to People’s Paradise

Paris, the City of Light, is now a beacon of sustainable urban living under Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s bold vision, transforming streets and reclaiming space from cars.

Here are 7 surprising ways Paris is unplugging from the car:

1. Pedal Power: Over 1,000km of cycling routes, including 350km of protected cycleways, have led to a 71% increase in cycling traffic since 2019.

2. Seine Transformation: Highways along the Seine are now vibrant pedestrian areas and bike paths, creating a stunning public space.

3. Slow and Safe: A 30km/h speed limit prioritizes pedestrian and cyclist safety.

4. Parking Reduction: Paris is removing 72% of on-street parking, reclaiming over 65 hectares for people-friendly spaces.

5. School Streets: 205 “school streets” restrict car access around elementary schools, enhancing safety and walkability.

6. SUV Surcharge: A recent referendum tripled parking charges for large vehicles, making it costly to bring SUVs into the city center.

7. 15-Minute City: Paris is creating self-sufficient neighborhoods where essentials are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, reducing car travel.

These radical changes haven't been without controversy, but the results speak for themselves. Car ownership in Paris has fallen from 60% to 35%, and carbon emissions have been cut by about 20%.

The City of Light is truly becoming the City of Life, showing the world that fewer cars can mean a brighter future for everyone.

Green Lungs of the City: Yiwu's Innovative Urban Ecological Project 

In 2019, the municipal government of Yiwu, China, launched the Green Lungs of the City Project (GLCP), an ambitious nature-based initiative to expand green spaces, reduce environmental strain, and strengthen climate resilience. At its core is a central forest-wetland park, featuring green corridors, wetland restoration, urban parks, and blue infrastructure. Together, these elements enhance biodiversity, water management, and public health.

The GLCP improves air and water quality, manages stormwater, connects ecosystems, and reduces urban heat, while also creating green jobs and recreational spaces. This collaborative effort—uniting local government, NGOs, community groups, and researchers—serves as a model for integrating nature-based solutions in urban planning, demonstrating how cities can balance growth with environmental and social sustainability.

AdaptNSW Forum - 29-30 October, Sydney Australia - Edge’s own Emma Rolls (Manager, Sustainable Infrastructure) will be presenting the Cool Suburbs tool at this event.

UNiting Business LIVE Australia - 30-31 October, Sydney Australia - Edge are a proud sponsor of SDG 11 at this event.

EIANZ Annual Conference - 6-8 November, Sydney, Australia - Edge’s own Dr Jenni Garden (Principal, Ecology and Sustainable Cities Lead) will be presenting our Urban Ecological Value method at this event.

This issue’s a-tree-ciation is inspired by Dr Jenni Garden's travels to the US which occurred one year ago this month.

During this trip I visited California where I was treated to a tour of Big Basin Redwoods State Park (BBRSP). This park is home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) south of San Francisco – the tallest tree species in the world, and among the longest lived, with some trees living more than 2,000 years!

The Coast Redwood's ability to create its own ecosystem, supporting diverse wildlife and even other plants growing on its massive branches, symbolizes nature's interconnectedness and reminds me of the profound impact a single organism can have on its surroundings.

Sadly, the BBRSP was devastated by the August 2020 Lightning Complex Fire which burned more than 97% of the 7,366ha forest. When I visited in October 2023, these ancient trees were covered in regrowth showing their remarkable resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

If you'd like to share your news, projects, and successes feel free to get in touch with Jenni Garden directly at jenni.garden@edgeimpact.global or contact us here.

As experts in the full spectrum of sustainability topics, we are here to guide you through the complexity. Our team includes specialists from across the globe; from strategists to economists, engineers to creatives. Since 2008, we have been helping businesses, organisations, industries and societies make transformation happen.

Our areas of expertise are focussed around the following areas:

Leadership and Transformation
ESG and Strategy
Decarbonisation and Climate Resilience
Circular Economy and Lifecycle Thinking
Procurement and Supply Chain
Nature and Biodiversity
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Newsletter

Liveable Cities News & Highlights - October 2024

Vicinity Centres' circular economy strategy boosts ESG performance through co-design and evidence-based approaches.

Supporting Vicinity Centres' journey towards a circular future

We set out to unpack the nature-related impacts and dependencies through UNSW’s supply chain.

UNSW’s supply chain reliance and impact on nature

An industry-led approach to cutting emissions while ensuring prosperity for grape growers and winemakers.

Wine Australia's Emissions Reduction Roadmap

Viña Concha y Toro partnered with Edge to assess climate risks and meet TCFD requirements.

Supporting Viña Concha y Toro’s Decarbonisation Journey

Tyre Stewardship Australia partnered with Edge to model tyre-derived products, assessing impacts and market benefits.

The Environmental Impacts of Waste Tyre Recovery

Alison has over twenty years of experience in the sustainability sector and was a pioneer in the Chief Sustainability Officer role, scaling sustainability consulting internationally. She has expertise across nature, climate change, energy, technology, carbon, and circular economy fields, working across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.

As a global leader, Alison excels in strategy, sustainability, people leadership, transformation, and relationship management. A purpose-driven leader, she is motivated by creating collective impact.

Beyond her executive roles, Alison has extensive board and governance experience.

Articles by Alison Rowe