Connecting Past and Present

April 7, 2024 By: Danielle Fernstrom

Media Article 1. Urbanisation’s role in the climate crisis is being overlooked.

https://www.ft.com/content/e9ec7f6d-27a4-4533-a4f2-7b91968e1688

 

Urban land areas could more than triple between 2015 and 2050, and the current way of building new cities will require vast amounts of raw materials such as sand, metals and wood1. If humanity continues to build cities in the same way we have over the past century — low density, energy and material intensive — more raw materials will be required than the planet can sustainably provide1. The projected developmental needs of urbanised populations are of vital importance to conservation measures. Conservation measures are futile within a system that is dependent upon the exploitation of natural resources. The over exploitation of natural resources has sustained humanity to the level of population growth we see today, but the tap is running dry and we must collectively do something before we die of thirst. 

 

Media Article 2: Long-term Statistics Canada research shows cities across country losing green space

https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/long-term-statistics-canada-research-shows-cities-across-country-losing-green-space-1.5763081

 

Urbanisation is a large factor contributing to the reduction in green spaces seen in about three-quarters of large and medium-sized cities in 2019 as compared to 20 years earlier2. As more infrastructure needs to be constructed to support the growing population green spaces are considered less and less valuable. However, this could not be further from the truth. As more people congest into urban centres there are higher levels of emissions and without adequate green spaces the air quality rapidly declines2. It is of vital importance for there to be conservation measures aimed at maintaining green spaces within cities. Research is required to establish a minimal threshold required for green spaces to maintain satisfactory air quality in urban cities. 

 

Recourses

 

1. Keith, Micheal. “Urbanisation’s Role in the Climate Crisis Is Being Overlooked.” Financial Times, January 25, 2004. https://www.ft.com/content/e9ec7f6d-27a4-4533-a4f2-7b91968e1688. 
2. “Long-Term Statistics Canada Research Shows Cities across Country Losing Green Space.” Climate and Environment News, February 1, 2022. https://www.ctvnews.ca/climate-and-environment/long-term-statistics-canada-research-shows-cities-across-country-losing-green-space-1.5763081.