Urbanisation, transport and tourism

Enabling thriving places through compact growth and a regenerative approach

20 November 2024

8 min read

Uncontrolled urban and tourism growth impacts communities and environment

Regeneration is becoming a crucial focus for both urban areas and tourism destinations. For many years, urban and tourism development have adopted growth-oriented approaches without considering limitations.

Today around 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, with this figure projected to increase to 68% by 2050, which, combined with population growth means another 2.5 billion people living in urban areas over the next 25 years.[1] Tourism is a fast-growing industry which is forecast to grow to 2 billion international trips by 2030, compared to 1.8 billion in 2018. This comes with challenges, particularly impacts on communities and on the environment with tourism contributing 6.7% to global greenhouse gas emissions in 2023[2].

In numerous countries, urban areas have experienced expansion and scattered developments that overlook adverse social and environmental consequences. Uncontrolled tourism growth has led to resistance from local communities who demand respect for their regions and places therein. Enhancing places where people reside and visit can be achieved through a regenerative approach, emphasising the creation of thriving urban and tourist areas. Effectively managing continued growth is increasingly essential to ensure growth in numbers is matched by a corresponding growth in quality of life for residents.

A regenerative approach fosters resilience and benefits people, place and planet

Governments are increasingly recognising the benefits of more compact settlement growth, which increases residential density in central areas, with enhanced public transportation being pivotal in improving accessibility within and between urban districts.

Compact growth enables greater efficiency in public investment in supporting infrastructure. Increasing housing availability in desirable living areas, offering more efficient public transport, and providing high-quality social infrastructure are essential for enhancing residents’ quality of life, making destinations more appealing to visitors, and reducing conflicts between tourists and host communities.

Furthermore, compact settlement growth minimises the need to build on greenfield sites, creates opportunities for brownfield site redevelopment, and supports the transition to lower-carbon living, as espoused in the principles of the “15-minute neighbourhood”.[3]

Irish policy documents increasingly promote a more sustainable approach for urban and tourism development

This year the Irish Government published policy documents that seeks to change our approach to urban development and tourism:

The 'Sustainable and Compact Settlements Guidelines for Planning Authorities’ was published in January. This policy document gives local governments clear direction on how more compact growth can accommodate population increases and facilitate building sustainable high-quality places. The shift towards more compact growth will result in integrated neighbourhoods linked by sustainable transport options, thus moving towards a 15-minute city concept. This drive to create thriving neighbourhoods can be considered ‘regenerative planning’.

The ‘Updated Draft Revised National Planning Framework’ was published in November. This high-level plan aims to shape future growth and sustainable development out to 2040. The plan seeks balanced compact growth with enhanced regional accessibility and a shift to more sustainable mobility. Policy measures to ensure a more sustainable approach to urban development are embedded throughout the plan. One example that addresses the expansion of built-up areas, includes the endorsement of nature-based solutions that provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help to build urban resilience. The NPF states:

“Sustainable urban development solutions, such as water sensitive urban design, can help to mitigate the potential for environmental degradation in the form of biodiversity loss, pollution of water bodies, and increased flood risk as the demand for urban development to accommodate a growing population continues to increase”. [4]

A new ‘Tourism Policy Framework 2025-2030’ for Irish tourism was published in November. This policy outlines strategic goals for a resilient and flourishing tourism sector by 2030. The policy balances economic development with environmental and social considerations, emphasising decarbonization. The Framework states: “A sustainable tourism model should help to; — conserve natural resources and biodiversity, respect the culture and heritage of localities; and, ensure economic gains, including enhanced employment opportunities that benefit host communities”.[5] A regenerative tourism approach is highlighted, with Fáilte Ireland serving as an Intermediate body for the EU Just Transition Fund. The €68 million Just Transition capital fund, which runs to 2026, targets midland counties affected by the shift to a climate-neutral economy due to the cessation of peat harvesting, aiming to create new job opportunities, empower diversification of businesses, and enhance local communities.

Insights from COP29

Wednesday, 20 November, focused on Urbanisation, Transport and Tourism at COP29 in Baku. This includes the first Tourism Day at a COP to increase attention on how the sector is affected and can contribute to climate action.

The COP29 Presidency launched the Multisectoral Actions Pathways (MAP) for Resilient and Healthy Cities to enhance multisectoral cooperation to address climate challenges in cities as well as an initiative to create coherence in all urban climate efforts and catalyse urban climate finance. The host calls for cross-sector collaboration to create cities that are resilient and inclusive.

A high-level event on “Greening Urban Transport” examined ways to develop sustainable urban transport systems and resilient infrastructure. This includes smart mobility solutions that minimise environmental impact while promoting accessible urban development.

Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said

“We build above the average of one Paris a week in terms of new footprint, new urban footprint in the world. Not a new city, but lots of new footprints in the world. And that means that every new building that we build has to be climate smart, has to be energy efficient and has to be doing this thinking about resilience to high waters, to droughts, etc. So, this is a conversation happening here at COP29, and it's very, very meaningful and very critical and important.”. Inger continued, “The cities can lead and be part of the big solution, but also ensure that your cities are reflected in the national adaptation plans”.

The COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism, supported by over 50 countries, commits to promoting sustainable tourism by reducing emissions, protecting ecosystems, and integrating tourism into national climate policies. A high-level event was held on “Raising the Climate Ambition of the Tourism Sector – from commitments to implementation”.

The need for standardising carbon emissions measurement in tourism was highlighted. The panel agreed that changing behaviour is a key challenge in moving from measurement to decarbonisation across the industry. They shared a goal of transitioning to evidence-based actions that cut emissions, aiming to reduce societal emissions by 50% by 2030.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) launched the second version of their Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism at COP29. The roadmap carries positive news, indicating that the number of global tourism business setting climate targets has increased by 27% in the last three years.

Ireland is playing its part in this paradigm shift to regenerative development

The discussions and actions from the Urbanisation, Transport and Tourism thematic day at COP29 highlighted the need to transform these sectors to address climate change. This includes adopting a collaborative approach to addressing the climate impacts of urban development and to decarbonise the tourism and transport sectors. An overarching aim is the integration of climate action into policy to help drive change.

These topics are highly relevant to Ireland, where progress is already being made by integrating sustainable practices into its national planning and tourism policy documents. By focusing on these areas and applying a regenerative lens to managing future urban and tourism growth, Ireland can contribute to reduced global emissions, foster thriving places, and build urban resilience.

Policy interventions need to be underpinned with certainty in capital funding, which must be multi-annual in commitment, and de-risked from the political regime of the time. As Ireland takes to the polls to vote for a new Government formation for 2025, it is imperative the major and critical infrastructure and urban regeneration projects are facilitated with certainty of delivery.

For more information on how we can support you in navigating the evolution of urban development, transport and tourism and creating better places together, please get in touch with our team below today.