Green Urbanist - Sustainable Placemaking, Planning and Urban Design

In this episode I explore the different roles that built environment professionals can play in leveraging systems change for sustainability. This is based on interviewing 122 guests on this podcast and exploring systems change research.The 5 types of change-makers are:Champion and CoordinatorResearcher and StorytellerTopic ExpertInnovatorSystems Influencer- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

This episode is part of a 6-part series on Urban Rewilding. My guest is Sean McCormack, Chair of Ealing Wildlife Group. Sean led the reintroduction of harvest mice and beavers into urban parks in London, UK. In this episode we discuss: What is 'Urban rewilding' and why we should do it.What made these projects successful.Getting support from the community.What needs to change to make rewilding in cities mainstream.Previous episodes with Sean:#72: Sean McCormack - Rewilding Urban London (Part 1)#73: Sean McCormack - Rewilding Urban London (Part 2)More about the Ealing Beaver Project here: https://theealingbeaverproject.comMore about Sean and Ealing Wildlife Group:https://ealingwildlifegroup.com/- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

This episode is a conversation with Jonathan Rosenbloom, Associate Dean at Albany Law School who has researched and written about sacrifice zones. He is also the Executive Director for the Sustainable Development Code.We discuss:Whether neighbourhoods that have been destroyed by natural disasters should be rebuilt or designated as no-build 'Sacrifice Zones'.How US planning departments can use the Sustainable Development Code to ensure new development is low carbon and climate adapted.Note: This episode was recorded before the LA wildfires in January 2025.Links:Contact Jonathan: jrose@albanylaw.eduSustainable Development Code: https://sustainablecitycode.org/Article on Sacrifice Zones: https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/the-case-for-returning-disaster-prone-areas-back-to-nature- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

This is a recording of a live streamed podcast episode to celebrate episode 100 of the podcast. I was joined by three guests, who you might recognise from past episodes:Laura Baron, Head of Sustainability, PurcelScott McAulay, Regenerative Design and Infrastructures Specialist, ArchitypeConrad Richardson, Sustainable Mobility ExpertWe discussed how we as built environment professionals can drive sustainable change through the work that we do. We also touch on some of the amazing work that all the guests are doing. You can watch the episode on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUS9ukxvtmI&t=2142s- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

My guest on this episode is Valentina Petrone, a circular economy expert based in New South Wales, Australia.In this episode, Valentina gives career advice for those who want to transition from traditional built environment careers into sustainability. We also discuss three of her projects:New South Wales Circular Design GuidelinesBradfield City Centre MasterplanCircular Office FitoutConnect with Valentina on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-petrone/- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

This episode is a conversation with Morgan Lewis, Co-Founder and CEO at Material Index.In the UK, 60% of all waste comes from the construction industry and only 2% of building components in the UK are reused. In this episode, Morgan explains how Material Index are trying to tackle this by working with building owners, contractors and project teams to make material reuse happen at scale.Learn more about Material Index: https://www.material-index.co.uk/- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

Discover fascinating insights about climate adaptation for urban nature reserves. The discussion highlights how climate change affects local tree and vegetation species, emphasizing the need for innovative management strategies. Learn about the impact of climate shifts on urban settings, including unique challenges faced by cities worldwide. Dive into the importance of diverse tree canopies for biodiversity and explore proactive approaches to enhance the resilience of urban greenery in the face of changing environmental conditions.

My guest on this episode is Katrin Klingenberg, the Executive Director of Phius. Phius is a non-profit organization committed to decarbonizing the built environment by making high-performance passive building the mainstream market standard. They are mainly active in USA with some international projects. In this episode we discuss:Why passive design principles need to be adapted to different climate zones - and how Phius has done this in their standards.The role of passive design in net zero carbon.How passive design is becoming mainstream in the USA and what else needs to be done to achieve this. Learn more about Phius: https://www.phius.org/Phius Passive Building Foundations Training: https://www.phius.org/passive-building/what-passive-building/passive-building-foundations-training- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

This episode is a conversation with Prachi Rampuria and Soham De, co-founders of an urban design practice called EcoResponsive Environments and are co-authors of a book by the same name. They joined me on this episode to discuss the concept of designing settlements with an understanding of natural systems as the starting point. They bring together the knowledge of multiple disciplines like sustainability, landscape ecology and water management and present it in a useful way for designers. More about their work: https://www.ecoresponsiveenvironments.com/EcoResponsive Environments book- - - Register: Nature-led Urban Design - Study Tour and Masterclass (25 September) Subscribe to the Green Urbanist Newsletter Consulting and training: https://greenurbanist.org/ Get in touch: https://greenurbanistpod.com/contact The Green Urbanist podcast is created by Ross O'Ceallaigh.

Nadina Galle, an ecological engineer and National Geographic Explorer, discusses her book, 'The Nature of Our Cities.' She highlights the crucial role urban nature plays in climate resilience and child development. Galle delves into the 'Internet of Nature,' exploring how technology can enhance urban ecosystems while cautioning against over-reliance. Insights on managing urban trees and the leading cities like Amsterdam and Boston showcase innovative approaches to urban greening, emphasizing community engagement and the balance of tech and nature expertise.