In puzzle solving, one is intended to put together the pieces in a logical way in order to come up with the desired solution. In solving today’s environmental problems, we don’t seem to be puzzle enthusiasts.
The global environmental crisis calls for a restructuring of the way we live and organize our cities, towns, and villages worldwide. Most people nod at “we cannot go on with business as usual”, but are we collectively and individually ready to make changes? What can one do, can it make a difference, and in which direction should we as a society go? The facts show that we are jeopardizing our life supporting systems, and experiencing weakening and the endangerment of the entire ecosystem.
The problem is, we have yet to come up with tangible solutions that begin to take action. Not only is the puzzle still unsovled, but we have thus far put together maybe two pieces out of ten million.
The facts are debated, questioned, neglected, “inconvenient”, but here are some of them. These are the pieces we should focus on:
negative impacts of current urbanization policies and over-use of natural resources:
- loss of habitat
- loss of agricultural land
- loss of drinking water
- destruction of marine eco-systems
- extinction of plant/animal species
- threat to human population due to any of the above, reflected by
- changes in weather patterns and the rising sea level
- serious public health problems (extremes: obesity or lack of water/food; diseases caused by pollution or lifestyle, etc)
- increased crime and war (often caused by the lack of resources, economic and social imbalance)
The global plan should be:
1. re-structure the way we live, work and play
- centralized but balanced development
- utilizing science and technology achievements for restructuring of existing business models
- providing for diverse population and mixed income
2. rethink the way we develop and shift towards
- efficient morphology
- mix of uses
- mix of development typologies for mixed income
- multi-modal transportation and mass-transit efficiency
- preserving open space and natural resources
- inclusion of biophilia and public spaces in urban areas
3. achieving economic goals through investment and raising of the quality and/or quantity of
- environmental restoration programs
- historic and cultural preservation
- locally produced food, organic farming
- water conservation
- stormwater drainage programs locally produced energy (wind, solar, recycling)
- social equity
It’s not easy to develop a strategy on how to find all the crucial pieces to solve this puzzle collectively, when the most influential players have different agendas . However, as an individual player, ask yourself a simple question: what have I done today that if everybody else did around me, would make a difference?
