Social-ecological transformation in cities in Asia

The report advocates for social-ecological transformations in Asian cities to meet global climate and development goals. It focuses on three key sectors: the built environment, transport, and public participation, arguing that environmental protection must be integrated with social justice to avoid further marginalizing vulnerable populations. The authors highlight that while Asian cities are major GHG emitters, their density offers opportunities for efficiency. The report emphasizes the need for nature-based solutions, active transport, and inclusive governance, while noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has both exposed urban inequalities and provided a catalyst for rethinking unsustainable consumption and urban design.

• Social-ecological transformation is defined as societal change processes that address social and ecological issues together rather than in opposition, requiring the participation of excluded groups such as women, youth, and slum dwellers.
• In the built environment, the report argues that new construction should be fossil-free and near-zero energy by 2020, as retrofitting existing infrastructure can be three times more expensive than initial energy-efficient investment.
• Informal settlement residents in Asia are highly vulnerable to climate change despite minimal GHG contributions; the report suggests low-cost adaptation measures like painting rooftops white or using perforated bamboo partitions for ventilation.
• Nature-based solutions (NBS), such as the 'sponge cities' concept in China, provide co-benefits for carbon sequestration and flood management; for example, urban greening in Xiamen is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 66,266.7 tonnes per year.
• Transport emissions in Asia rose by 92 per cent between 2000 and 2016, reaching nearly 2.3 gigatons of CO2 in 2016, driven by increased motorisation and private vehicle ownership.
• Urban transport is highly gendered; women in Asia face specific safety concerns and different travel patterns, which can lead them to drop out of work if transport is unsafe or inaccessible.
• True public participation must move beyond 'instrumental use' to 'deliberative approaches' to avoid outcomes where middle-class environmental goals lead to the eviction of the poor, as seen in Chennai's canal rejuvenation.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted extreme urban disparities, such as the lack of green space in Bangkok (6.79 square metres per capita) compared to Singapore (66 square metres per capita).
• The pandemic provided an opportunity for cities to invest in active transport; for example, Seoul reduced the number and width of car lanes to create more space for pedestrians.
• A case study of Kolkata suggests that 'economically attractive' low-carbon measures could reduce the city's energy expenditure by 8.5 per cent and GHG emissions by 20.7 per cent, with investments paying for themselves in 6.2 years.

APA

Archer, D., & Adelina, C. (2020). Social-ecological transformation in cities in Asia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/social-ecological-transformation-in-cities-in-asia.pdf

Chicago

Archer, Diane, and Charrlotte Adelina. Social-ecological transformation in cities in Asia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2020. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/social-ecological-transformation-in-cities-in-asia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Archer |first1=Diane |last2=Adelina |first2=Charrlotte |title=Social-ecological transformation in cities in Asia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/social-ecological-transformation-in-cities-in-asia.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{archer2020socialecological, author = {Archer, Diane and Adelina, Charrlotte}, title = {{Social-ecological transformation in cities in Asia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/social-ecological-transformation-in-cities-in-asia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }