Introduction:
Visualize a planet with flourishing green ecosystems, smog-free urban centers, and a higher percentage of pedestrians and cyclists than vehicles. Sustainable cities are striving to create this idyllic urban environment, despite the fact that it might seem like something out of a fairy tale.
Did you know that 70% of the world’s population will reside in cities by 2050? A comprehensive strategy based on financial, social, scientific, and ecological components is now required when designing cities from a standpoint of sustainable development in order to address a variety of issues, such as pollution, heat pockets, and other issues.
Town planning that is sustainable (or green) offers significant benefits for cities of the future and is the need of the hour
What is Urban Planning in Sustainable Cities?
The idea of sustainability states that current needs should be met without sacrificing the standard of living for future generations. This practice encourages leaders in the public and private sectors to take both current and future generations’ needs into account when creating new communities. In order to ensure that residents can maintain a high standard of living as the population grows, sustainable cities are created with long-term effects on the environment and society in mind. This contrasts with poorly planned urban areas, which have problems with the environment and poor quality of air and water because they are not set up to support large populations of people.
Cities now have serious concerns about the decline and loss of the earth’s resources as well as the effect of global warming on green spaces. Urban planning practices have changed to place a stronger emphasis on sustainability in response to these issues, and cities have started to come up with fresh ideas for enhancing the condition of urban ecological systems. The maintenance of healthy and environmentally friendly surroundings that benefit ecosystems as well as residents is an essential purpose of an urban ecosystem.
Germany’s Vauban serves as a real-life example of how urban planning can be advantageous to the neighborhood. Here, every building either produces equal to or more energy than it consumes overall. Moreover, thanks to the town’s interconnected streets and assigned paths, residents can easily walk or ride bicycles around it. The standard of living of city residents is improved by this sustainable urban planning strategy, which also shapes the neighborhood for future residents.
Benefits of Urban Planning in Creating Green Cities
1. Cutting down the population’s stress
Noise, traffic congestion, a dense population, a frantic pace of life, crowded public transport, etc all challenges people face every day who reside in big cities and towns. This negatively impacts both their physical and mental well-being. When a city is solely functional, it frequently disregards the basic psychological needs of its residents. Vital needs like connections to other residents and a sense of security people deserve are given the top priority in the sustainable urban development concept.
2. Fresher air
As pollution builds up and the earth suffocates, illnesses like asthma, chronic coughs, as well as cancer develop in areas with a high population density. Governments should plant trees in their urban developments in addition to making plans to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. Large trees have the capacity to store 5.4 tonnes of CO2 and up to 20 kg of CO2 per year, or the amount of carbon dioxide of an Airbus A320 flying 600 km (5)!
3. Improved water management
Runoff water cannot be properly drained into the ground due to the central drainage’s limited absorption power and the extensive concretization of cities. The flow of water reduces the ground upstream and contaminates the rainwater, which builds up and brings wastes, necessitating more expensive downstream procedures. This water can be managed in a more effective manner thanks to sustainable town planning that includes plants.
4. Expansion of the city without taking up space
Sustainable town planning makes it feasible to maximize the space available in the downtown area by incorporating more nature through the design of roof terraces and vegetated frontages, the renovation of abandoned land, and lower-level spaces. This is crucial because urban sprawl, which is consuming natural spaces, must be slowed by making cities denser.
Sustainable cities are essential in the battle against climate change and are not just a lofty ideal for urban planners and eco-fanatics. Sustainable infrastructure can reduce the effects of floods, heat waves, contaminated water supplies, and even the spread of diseases can be curbed through proper planning. To see your future generations also thrive and benefit from natural resources, it’s important to have green cities.
