Events

Friday, December 7th, 2007 / 8:30 am - Noon

Cities, Energy, and the Post-Oil Paradigm

A Presentation and Panel Discussion

Overview

Cities will soon be using less oil, as a result of the “peaking” of oil production and of the efforts to reduce the production of greenhouse gases.

• How will cities adapt?
• What steps can be taken?
• What steps are already being taken?Where?
• What are the best practices?
• What are the social, political, and economic challenges to change?

The Journal of Urban Technology and two CUNY Institutes, the Institute for Urban Systems and the Institute for Sustainable Cities, are co-sponsoring a presentation by the Canadian scholar, Anthony Perl, the guest editor of JUT’s issue on “Cities, Energy, and the Post-Oil Paradigm.” The presentation will be followed by a panel discussion with Richard Gilbert, Peter Marcotullio, and Michael Bobker.

About the Speakers

Anthony Perl-is professor of urban studies and political science at Simon Fraser University where he directs the Urban Studies Program. He will present an overview of JUT’s special issue and its origin in a workshop held at the conclusion of the 2006 World Urban Forum. He’ll address why the issue’s contributors focused on cities as the place where debates over alternative energy and climate paradigms are most likely to yield innovative solutions that herald new paradigms for urban design and mobility. He will offer a sneak preview of what such arrangements might look like that is drawn from the soon-to-be-published Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight without Oil, co-authored with Richard Gilbert.

Richard Gilbert—is a Toronto-based planner who will discuss the Hamilton Report (see www.richardgilbert.ca), an attempt at Energy-First Planning in Hamilton, Ontario. This outline of a plan for urban life after peak oil was commissioned by the City Council following citizen complaints that the ongoing planning process made unrealistic assumptions about future energy availability. The Report caused a stir when issued in April 2006, was shelved and mostly forgotten, but may yet have an impact, perhaps beyond Hamilton’s boundary, as the implications of $100/barrel oil become clear.

Peter J. Marcotullio—is distinguished lecturer at Hunter College, City University of New York, where he teaches in the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, in the Department of Geography, and in the Macaulay Honors College. Since 2007, he has also held the title of adjunct senior fellow at the United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), working from the UNU’s Office at the UN, New York. From 2006-2008 he was visiting associate professor, Urban Planning Program, Columbia University.

Michael Bobker—is a fellow with the CUNY Institute for Urban Systems and director of the CUNY Building Performance Lab. This NYSERDA-funded project furthers market transformation for enhanced operations and maintenance for energy efficiency and other quantifiable benefits in existing buildings. He has promoted energy efficiency in NYC buildings for over 25 years, in energy analysis, engineering, construction management, project development, and educational capacities. Michael is a Certified Energy Manager and holds graduate degrees in Sociology-Anthropology (Oberlin College), Energy Management (NY Institute of Technology) and Business (NYU-Stern). He is active in the NYC Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers, in ASHRAE and co-chairs the Environmental Science section at the New York Academy of Sciences.

Agenda

Friday, December 7, 2007
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-12:00 Presentation and Panel Discussion

Location

Atrium Auditorium
New York City College of Technology (City Tech)
City University of New York
300 Jay Street
Downtown Brooklyn

City Tech is accessible by the A, F, C, 2, 3, 4, 5, R, N, and M lines (Borough Hall/Court Street/Jay Street)

Event Video

This event was recorded. Please contact Ellen Thorson to order a copy.

Video: Cities, Energy, and the Post-Oil Paradigm (Click to open in a new window.)