Das Anthropozän - Die Erde in unserer Hand

The Anthropocene concept is a comprehensive conceptual "toolbox" for systemic analysis, interdisciplinary monitoring and a new understanding of the gigantic current impact of human activities on the Earth system. At the same time, it neither implies a fatalistic acceptance of an apocalypse, nor does it promote a simplistic "everything will be fine" positivism, but rather allows differentiated observations from different perspectives. Precisely because of its systemic and interdisciplinary approach, the concept does not narrow possible pathways for the development, propagation and application of future options. On the contrary, the Earth system sciences, social sciences, cultural studies and the humanities together and very clearly express that in order to achieve global development goals such as justice, food security, health, peace and other goals for sustainable development (SDGs) (UNSDGs 2015), we keep on needing "assessable" and predictable conditions of an Anthropocene Earth system (Steffen et al. 2016). In order not to completely switch from the relative stability of the Holocene to incalculable risks, but rather to transform the Anthropocene Earth System into a different, but permanently habitable Anthropocene, it is necessary not to exceed planetary boundaries (sensu Rockström et al. 2009, Steffen et al. 2015b) and to see the SDGs as a compass. For this purpose, continuous monitoring of the state of the Anthropocene Earth system is indispensable. Only then both safe shelter spaces and a creative leeway for shaping the Anthropocene remain guaranteed. Within this framework, and depending on the region, the culture, the social requirements and the sociopolitical goals, it should be possible to negotiate very freely where the future journey should go. Necessary for that is a generally more holistic, systemic view of the integration of humankind into planetary processes, which means an integration of all societal groups, i.e. politics, science, business, administration, civil society groups and individuals. Another prerequisite is the improvement of future literacy via education in schools, universities, companies etc., with the goal to develop skills for better imagining alternate futures, depicting desirable futures, and designing solution portfolios for them. (excerpt from the conclusions of the paper

Zoning on purposes as a contemporary alternative for zoning on land uses of open spaces in an urbanised context

The (mono)functional zoning in land use planning has already a long record of service and finds its roots in an historical political and societal ambition of separating functions and activities in space. But above all, the continuous success of this type of zoning is linked to the legal security it creates. Although a decrease in legal security still seems an invincible problem, the technique of functional zoning in spatial planning is increasingly being questioned. An alternative planning discourse of ‘open space as public space’ for instance, a planning discourse about open space fragments in an urbanised context developed in the context of my PhD-dissertation (Leinfelder, 2007 and 2009), seems incompatible with this functional zoning … but also three other alternative planning discourses about the relation between city and countryside, discussed in my dissertation, do not result in spatial entities that are inspired by land uses, but by differences in dynamics, environmental impact and meaning of places. Based on these observations, a ‘rediscovery’ of the zoning plan – as a ‘strategic’ zoning plan – seems necessary. The addition of ‘strategic’ indicates a more active, more realisation oriented and more selective approach than today’s comprehensive and passive functional zoning. The zoning in a strategic zoning plan is no longer related to the allocation of zones to one or more land uses, but to entities that refer as much as possible to the (societal) purposes for the open space involved. The name of these zones tries to express as much as possible the most relevant spatial characteristics of the entities desired for – concerning dynamics, vulnerability, meaning, … And the juridical rules related to these entities define the conditions in which – maybe yet unknown – spatial projects can take place without mentioning the land uses by name. In other words, development and management of space become increasingly dominant to the traditional allocation of space. Undoubtedly, also landscape as a holistic frame of integration is becoming of more and more importance in such zoning plans. The strategic zoning plan also has to be considered as a more indicative and temporary frame of reference for private and public actors through which the decision making about specific projects and measures can be coordinated – even when the choices at the moment of the decision are different than those at the moment of the design of the plan

Increasing societal discomfort about a dominant restrictive planning discourse on open space in Flanders/Belgium

The specific spatial context in the densely urbanised northern part of Belgium, Flanders, offers a sort of laboratory conditions to study, design and plan fragments of open space in an urbanising context. A chronological analysis of documents in three periods relevant to Flemish spatial planning policy allows to conclude that one single planning discourse has reigned spatial planning in Flanders already since the design of the first zoning plans 45 years ago. This planning discourse considers city and countryside as two separate and separated entities. Today however, the validity of this dominant discourse is increasingly under pressure. An obvious societal need appears to be growing to turn around the perception of a possible contradiction between city and countryside. In a densely urbanised spatial context, alternative planning discourses should be based on the idea of open spaces that offer complementary services within a partnership between city and countryside

Assessment of governance strategies for climate adaptation in Flanders / Belgium

Climate discourse in recent decades has mainly focused on the issue of mitigation. Through a better understanding and assessment of climate challenges, adaptation arises as a complementary strategy to mitigation. Vulnerability in relation to climate change is seen as a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Adaptation can influence sensitivity while mitigating impacts on the exposure to climate change. (IPCC, 2007). Adaptation requires space for climate on a local scale and should therefore be incorporated into the structure of amy given place or region. Consequently, however, implementation has to overcome local resistance. (IPCC, 2007) In this first part of a broader investigation into adaptation, the climate change challenge is situated in the Flemish context. Assessment of an appropriate framework in the international literature is followed by a delineation of the relation between space, demand and supply, and policy. A first step is taken towards the development of a climate scan tool to narrow down adaptation options and strategies. At this point, qualitative spatial implementations will be investigated through research by design in order to assess integrated and integral adaptations