Description of activity
In a Melbourne CBD pilot, RMIT University brought together the private sector with city government and RMIT University with the UN Global Compact – Cities Programe to explore issues and look at tangible proactive solutions to extreme heat events. As well as one of the two primary education providers in the CBD RMIT is also one of the major real estate holders. Major retail centres, such as Emporium, QV and Bourke Street Mall discussed opportunities with the City of Melbourne for both businesses and councils to reduce the impact of heat waves, improve urban forestry and enhance economic growth. A second stage to the project will include a cohort of multi-disciplinary university students in areas such as design, engineering, science, communication and project management who will work with the retailers and the city government on designing solutions to heat impact. The project will being linked to/account for a planned major subway development which will disrupt the city for the next 6 years or so, treating the disruption to street access and infrastructure as as an opportunity for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Sustainable Development Goal 11 targets relating to activity
11.5 By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
Main themes of this activity
Resilience
Changes that took place as a result of this activity
New collaborative partnerships between the retail sector and the city and the university. A heightened awareness of the impact of extreme heat events, which are increasing markedly in Australia and the impact on retailers. The city has a very high student population who predominately live in very small high rise apartments and socialise in the shopping centre. There will be ongoing contribution by the retailers to city planning and support for initiatives such as urban forests. The second stage of the project which has developed from the initial workshops looks to be high impact and highly innovative.
How the impact of the activity was measured
The concrete proposals that came from the workshops. Evaluation of the workshops. Next stage developments.
Links related to the activity
- http://citiesprogramme.org/public-private-partnerships-to-address-extreme-heat/
