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Rethinking our space: how spatial planning helps building sustainable cities for tomorrow

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European Countries

Rethinking our space: how spatial planning helps building sustainable cities for tomorrow

06 June 2024
This article explores the integration of energy, and climate plans into spatial planning and its significance for sustainable urban development.
Irene Biancani

Spatial planning plays a crucial role in shaping the physical environment of smaller municipalities and larger cities, which in turn influences energy consumption and climate impact. By integrating energy and climate considerations into urban development strategies, spatial planning emerges as a powerful tool for creating resilient, livable, and environmentally responsible urban environments.

Spatial planning refers to the collective efforts of both the public and private sectors to influence the distribution of people and activities within the space of their municipality or region. The objective of spatial plans is to develop an effective territorial organisation of land uses and economic demand while protecting the environment and achieving social objectives. The integration of energy, climate, and mobility plans into local and regional space planning allows for complementarity and consistency of actions, where the objectives of each plan would be shared and considered in all the others. 

Spatial planning is a public duty governed by legal regulations. The competencies for spatial planning primarily reside at the national and regional levels, where a variety of practices and systems are utilised, stemming from diverse planning traditions and customs. The EU itself has indeed no general competence in this subject, but it possesses shared competencies in related areas such as energy, therefore shaping the framework situation in which spatial plans are set up. A clear example is the 2023/1791 Energy Efficiency Directive that encourages the promotion of renewable energy systems. This entails the creation of proper infrastructure which has an impact on the planning of urban and regional areas. 

Globally, integrating climate and energy considerations into spatial planning is increasingly vital. Many regions recognise the need for sustainable spatial strategies to combat climate change and transition to renewable energy. However, local authorities often lack an understanding of spatial planning's role in addressing climate change, and existing tools are not properly used. Research in the field is under development, with a leading example being the LIFE project IN-PLAN. The project aims to assist local and regional authorities in the integration of these plans into spatial planning through the development of a capacity-building programme and the IN-PLAN Practice, a guidebook on how to further integrate climate mitigation and adaptation aspects into spatial planning processes. The importance of sustainable spatial planning is not to be discussed, but what are exactly the benefits coming from the integration of energy, and climate plans into spatial plans?

The importance of an integrated approach

Spatial planning, to become effective as an instrument in addressing the challenges of climate change in European cities and regions, requires an integrated approach that takes into account the spillover effects and trade-offs between energy and climate objectives. 

Integrated spatial planning provides numerous opportunities to significantly support the transition away from fossil fuels. There are several ways in which spatial planning can contribute to climate protection:

  • Embracing compact urban development. By developing the existing land, spatial planning can reduce land consumption and energy usage. 

  • Encouraging energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure. Spatial planning can incentivise the adoption of energy-efficient building designs and infrastructure. By improving energy-efficient construction, the incorporation of renewable energy sources, and the integration of green technologies, energy consumption in buildings and infrastructure can be minimized.

  • Safeguarding natural habitats. Land use planning can improve the safeguarding of natural habitats like forests, wetlands, and other green spaces. These habitats are crucial for carbon sequestration and improving air quality. The creation of urban green spaces can also mitigate urban heat island effects and enhance residents' quality of life.

Toward sustainable urban futures

The city of the future must be sustainable, powered by renewables, resilient to climate change, and responsive to its citizens’ needs. This can happen only through an attentive and efficient planning of its available spaces. The integration of energy and climate plans into spatial planning is not only essential but also offers a multitude of benefits for cities and regions striving for sustainability and resilience to climate change challenges. This integrated approach helps optimise resource use, reduce GHG emissions, enhance livability and social inclusion, and promote economic prosperity. Integrated spatial planning requires a long-term vision and the commitment of a variety of stakeholders to rethink our spaces and the way cities live. Let's shape tomorrow's cities today, with sustainable spatial planning paving the path toward a resilient and thriving future for the next generations. 

Life IN-PLAN Team