Optimization of settlement land use through carbon footprint approach in the North Balikpapan

Limited land in the downtown area as well as the increasing amount of new activities centre causes residential development leads to North Balikpapan. This area is an urban fringe with vast protected forests as buffer zone and catchment area for the city and surrounding area. Land conversion in this area will increase hazard risk of inundation, water quality decrease and increased CO₂ emissions. Therefore, development should be maintained environmental stability. One of the rights applicated approach is carbon footprint that is capable to measure the balance between production and absorption needs of CO₂ emissions. To find the optimal land allocation, we used carbon footprint calculation from the household activities, identify the factors of settlement growth, and use Linear Programming analysis. Analysis' results show that settlement activities in North Balikpapan produce 108.362,4 tCO₂/year or equivalent with 618,50 Ha green space. Meanwhile, the development of settlement in North Balikpapan is affected by social demographic, developer initiative, environmental condition, public facilities availability, economical structure, and policy factors. According to those factors, optimal allocation of settlement area in North Balikpapan is only about 4,510.01 Ha. With that condition, it still able to absorb CO₂ emissions from inside or outside the area around 2.751 tCO₂/year.