Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Global Energy Stress: Challenges and Opportunities for Child-Friendly Cities

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Geographies of Global Issues: Change and Threat

Part of the book series: Geographies of Children and Young People ((GCYP,volume 8))

Abstract

Children’s opportunities, challenges, and well-being are in large part determined by decisions made about their environments without their consent, decisions which are in turn shaped by broader, sometimes global forces. One of these global forces relates to the availability of cheap and reliable sources of energy. Modern Western societies have been built on the cheap energy that comes from fossil fuels, particularly oil. Yet the costs of fossil fuel energy are likely to continue to rise, partly due to increasing awareness of the need to pay for the impacts of this energy use on climate change. While some experts believe that alternative energy sources will seamlessly replace oil as the major source of energy, others argue that replacing oil may not be a straightforward exercise. The implications of global energy stress for children’s well-being and for child-friendly cities include both negative and positive aspects. While acknowledging the possibility of increased poverty, hunger, and international and local conflict, this chapter argues that consideration of the possible impacts of global energy stress provides valuable opportunities to increase child pedestrian safety, boost the use of the child-friendly transport modes, involve children as active citizens, and strengthen local communities. All of these changes would create more child-friendly cities, as well as cities that are healthier, more livable, and more sustainable for all city residents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ansell, N. (2009). Childhood and the politics of scale: Descaling children’s geographies? Progress in Human Geography, 33(2), 190–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battellino, H., & Mendigorin, L. (1999). Statistics of understanding for demand management transport planning: The Sydney Household Travel Survey. Paper presented at the 23rd Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), Perth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benes, J., Chauvet, M., Kamenik, O., Kumhof, M., Laxton, D., Mursula, S., & Selody, J. (2015). The future of oil: Geology versus technology. International Journal of Forecasting, 31(1), 207–221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black, B. C. (2012). Oil for living: Petroleum and american conspicuous consumption. Journal of American History, 99(1), 40–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brecha, R. J. (2013). Ten reasons to take peak oil seriously. Sustainability, 5(2), 664–694.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bridge, G. (2010). Geographies of peak oil: The other carbon problem. Geoforum, 41(4), 523–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Button, K. (2011). Transport and energy. In A. de Palma, R. Lindsey, E. Quinet, & R. Vickerman (Eds.), A handbook of transport economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, I. (2014). The end of peak oil? Why this topic is still relevant despite recent denials. Energy Policy, 64, 93–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland, C. J., Hagens, N., Lynd, L., Kaufmann, R. K., & Patzek, T. W. (2006). Energy returns on ethanol production. Science, 312(5781), 1746–1748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson K (2007) Lubricating an oily path to the Middle East, the age – Business day, Melbourne, 9 July. http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/lubricating-an-oily-path-to-the-middle-east/2007/07/08/1183833344238.html

  • Deffeyes, K. S. (2005). Beyond oil: The view from Hubbert’s peak. New York: Hill and Wang.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebi, K. L., & Paulson, J. A. (2007). Climate change and children. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 54(2), 213–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feliciati, C. C. (2005). The right to food for children in Brazil: A “modest proposal”. The International Journal of Children’s Rights, 13, 413–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, M. (2002). Human rights, children’s rights and judgement – Some thoughts on reconciling universality and pluralism. The International Journal of Children’s Rights, 10, 345–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, C., & Tranter, P. (2011). Children and their urban environment: Changing worlds. London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeman, C., & Tranter, P. (2015). Children’s geographies. In J. D. Wright (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social and behavioural sciences (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 491–497). Oxford: Elsevier.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fridley, D. (2010). Nine challenges of alternative energy. In R. Heinberg & D. Lerch (Eds.), The post carbon reader: Managing the 21st century’s sustainability crisis (pp. 229–246). Healdsburg: Watershed Media.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrichs, J. (2010). Global energy crunch: How different parts of the world would react to a peak oil scenario. Energy Policy, 38(8), 4562–4569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frumkin, H., Hess, J., & Vindigni, S. (2009). Energy and public health: The challenge of peak petroleum. Public Health Reports, 124(1), 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrard, J. (2009). Active transport: Children and young people (an overview of recent evidence). Melbourne: VicHealth. http://www.chpcp.org/resources/Active_transport_children_and_young_people_FINAL.pdf

  • Gilbert, R., & Perl, A. (2010). Transport revolutions. Moving people and freight without oil. London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, T. (2007). No fear: Growing up in a risk-averse society. London: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, T. (2008). Space-oriented children’s policy: Creating child-friendly communities to improve children’s well-being. Children and Society, 22, 136–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleeson, B., & Sipe, N. (Eds.). (2006). Creating child friendly cities: Reinstating kids in the city. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homer-Dixon, T. (2006). The upside of down: Catastrophe, creativity, and the renewal of civilization. Toronto: Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen, P. L. (2006). Why we fight about black spots. Injury Prevention, 12(6), 356–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen, P., Racioppi, F., & Rutter, H. (2009). Who owns the road? How motorised traffic discourages walking and bicycling. Injury Prevention, 15, 365–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jakob, M., & Hilaire, J. (2015). Climate science: Unburnable fossil-fuel reserves. Nature, 517(7533), 150–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joly, I. (2004). Travel time budget – Decomposition of the worldwide mean. Paper presented at the International Association of Time-Use Research Annual Conference, Rome, 27–29 Oct.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keith, D. (2009). Dangerous abundance. In T. Homer-Dixon (Ed.), Carbon shift: How peak oil and the climate crisis will change Canada (and our lives) (pp. 27–58). Toronto: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, N. (2007). The shock doctrine: The rise of disaster capitalism. New York: Picador.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knox, P. L. (2005). Creating ordinary places: Slow cities in a fast world. Journal of Urban Design, 10(1), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kytta, M. (2004). The extent of children’s independent mobility and the number of actualized affordances as criteria for child-friendly environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 179–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malaty, G. (2004). What are the reasons behind the success of Finland in PISA. Retrieved from www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/journal/malaty.pdf

  • Malone, K. (2007). The bubble-wrap generation: Children growing up in walled gardens. Environmental Education Research, 13(4), 513–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. G., & Sorrell, S. R. (2014). The future of oil supply. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 372(2006), 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J., & King, D. (2012). Climate policy: Oil’s tipping point has passed. Nature, 481(7382), 433–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, C. (2008). Sustainable happiness: How happiness studies can contribute to a more sustainable future. Canadian Psychology, 49(4), 289–295.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2014). Obesity Update. OECD directorate for employment, labour and social affairs. Retrieved from www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/Obesity-Update-2014.pdf

  • Polya, G. (2005). Passive genocide in Iraq,, Countercurrents.org. Retrieved 9 May 2006, from http://www.countercurrents.org/iraq-polya110305.htm

  • Roberts, I. (2011). The energy glut: Transport and the politics of fatness and thinness, 4th annual TRIPP lecture, transportation research and injury prevention programme. Delhi: Indian Institute of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, I., & Edwards, P. (2010). The energy glut: The politics of fatness in an overheating world. London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosin, H. (2014). The overprotected kid. The Atlantic, 19 Mar. http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/03/hey-parents-leave-those-kids-alone/358631/

  • Rudner, J., & Malone, K. (2011). Childhood in the suburbs and the Australian dream: How has it impacted children’s independent mobility? Global Studies of Childhood, 1(3), 207–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, S., & Tranter, P. (2010). The hope for oil crisis: Children, oil vulnerability and (in)dependent mobility. Australian Planner, 47(4), 284–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaz, K., & Corpuz, K. (2008). Serving passengers: Are you being served? Paper presented at the 4th Annual PATREC Research Forum, 2 Oct, Perth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skår, M., & Krogh, E. (2009). Changes in children’s nature-based experiences near home: From spontaneous play to adult-controlled, planned and organised activities. Children’s Geographies, 7(3), 339–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. W. (2007). Deleuze and the question of desire: Towards an immanent theory of ethics. Parrhesia, 2, 66–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, P. (2014). Active travel: A cure for the hurry virus. Journal of Occupational Science, 21(1), 65–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, P. J., & Malone, K. (2004). Geographies of environmental learning: An exploration of children’s use of school grounds. Children’s Geographies, 2(1), 131–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, P., & Pawson, E. (2001). Children’s access to local environments: A case-study of Christchurch, New Zealand. Local Environment, 6(1), 27–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, P., & Sharpe, S. (2007). Children and peak oil: An opportunity in crisis. International Journal of Children’s Rights, 15(1), 181–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, P., & Sharpe, S. (2008). Escaping monstropolis: Child-friendly cities, peak oil and monsters, Inc. Children’s Geographies, 6(3), 295–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, P., & Sharpe, S. (2012). Disney-Pixar to the rescue: Harnessing positive affect for enhancing children’s active mobility. Journal of Transport Geography, 20(1), 34–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tverberg, G. E. (2012). Oil supply limits and the continuing financial crisis. Energy, 37(1), 27–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (1989) Convention on the Rights of the Child. Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly Resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989 entry into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with Article 49 (http://www.unicef.org.uk/Documents/Publication-pdfs/UNCRC_PRESS200910web.pdf).

  • Victoria Walks. (2013). Starting a walk together group. Retrieved 3 Sept 2014, from http://www.victoriawalks.org.au/Assets/Files/Starting%20a%20Walk%20Together%20Group_FINAL.pdf

  • Whitzman, C., Romero, V., Duncan, M., Curtis, C., Tranter, P., & Burke, M. (2010). Links between children’s independent mobility, active transport, physical activity and obesity. In E. Waters, B. Swinburn, J. Seidell, & R. Uauy (Eds.), Preventing childhood obesity: Evidence policy and practice. Sydney: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyver, S., Tranter, P., Naughton, G., Little, H., Sandseter, E. B. H., & Bundy, A. (2010). Ten ways to restrict children’s freedom to play: The problem of surplus safety. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 11(3), 263–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, UNSW, Canberra, ACT, BC 2610, Australia

    Paul Tranter & Scott Sharpe

Authors
  1. Paul Tranter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Scott Sharpe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul Tranter .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. InstituteofEnvironment,Health&Societies, Brunel University , Uxbridge, United Kingdom

    Nicola Ansell

  2. SchoolofGeography&SustainableCommunities, University of Wollongong SchoolofGeography&SustainableCommunities, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

    Natascha Klocker

  3. Department of Geography, National University of Singapore Department of Geography, Singapore, Singapore

    Tracey Skelton

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this entry

Cite this entry

Tranter, P., Sharpe, S. (2016). Global Energy Stress: Challenges and Opportunities for Child-Friendly Cities. In: Ansell, N., Klocker, N., Skelton, T. (eds) Geographies of Global Issues: Change and Threat. Geographies of Children and Young People, vol 8. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-54-5_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation