What is New Clark City?
New Clark City
What Is New Clark?
In March 2050, New Clark City—a new urban development in Manila, covering 9,450 hectares of land—was completed. It was inaugurated in 2051 and has since welcomed 10,000 new residents. Many are in the process of moving from Manila’s Central Business Districts (CBDs), such as Bonifacio Global City, to New Clark, in an effort to bolster business activity and embrace sustainable development. New Clark has followed the likes of Nusantara in Indonesia, aiming to replace a sinking capital city with one that embraces the principles of biophilic and post-industrial design, industrial symbiosis, and infrastructural ecology.
Permaculture
According to David Holmgren, one of the founders of permaculture, “Integration of previously segregated systems appears to be a fundamental principle driving post-industrial design.” This industrial symbiosis can be applied to both permaculture and large-scale urban systems in New Clark.
Regenerative Farming
Regenerative farming systems, particularly agroforestry, permaculture, and tree crop farming, allow New Clark to sequester 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare, per year. Exemplifying principles of symbiosis, it is clear that sustainable agricultural investments cascade into the local economy, as investments in certain tree crops mollify food insecurity and bolster household income.
Energy
Likewise, these symbiotic principles permeate the energy sector. Farming residue is set to be converted to biochar for use as a viticultural soil amendment. This both improves soil fertility and stores carbon, illustrating the system’s interdependent feedback loops. Through public-private partnerships with farming communities, the government can develop centrally located biochar facilities. Ultimately, regenerative farming benefits New Clark’s residents, farmers, government, and energy sector, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating the value of urban interdependence.
Circular Economy
Continuing with New Clark’s support of a circular economy, 60% of waste is recycled and recovered, and 40% is processed into either energy or products. 10-12% of residue is non-recoverable. Waste reduction through recycling and composting reduces emissions and landfill space, also improving air quality (due to reductions in ammonia gas), sanitation (due to reductions in leachate), and overall health and prosperity for city dwellers.
Climate Resilient Design
New Clark also integrated climate-resilient design, replacing asphalt pavements with cool pavements, flood barriers, and forests to maintain water catchments. A key drawback is that most of New Clark’s residents moved from wealthy CBDs such as Bonifacio Global City. Citizens from informal settlements, who are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, do not have the resources to move into a climate-safe haven like New Clark