What will sustainable urban centers of the future look like?
City centers have been fraught with issues since the beginning of urban development. Even small towns and villages had to deal with concerns such as waste management and shared resources. Imagine the reality of garbage and rats in London during the plague in the mid-1600s for historical reference. Modern-day urban issues still focus on waste management and health, but now we have the added burden of water shortages, floods, natural disasters, global warming, raging temperatures and finding ways to mitigate those issues in balance with the needs of society. Looking ahead, what does the future of urban sustainability look like?
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Planning for urban growth requires a multi-faceted approach. With people migrating more than ever, cities are expected to see unprecedented growth in the years to come. However, those very cities are already the source of high resource consumption as well as carbon emissions. Therefore, building climate resistance means addressing how we source and use resources from water and energy to building materials and transportation options.
Related: A project in Niger hopes to create affordable urban housing
Water management
Some communities are already acutely aware of water shortages, especially those throughout the southwest portion of the United States. Restrictions are already in place in areas of Nevada and California where residents have outlined frequencies for watering their yards. Eventually, it’s expected to be commonplace for local governments to phase out lawns in favor of native plants to create landscapes that require less water.
In addition to how we use water, it’s critical we pay attention to how we source water. We’ll see a greater investment in rainwater collection from roofs or directly from the sky. Stormwater runoff is another valuable source of water we can expect to hear about. Recycled water is yet another way to make the most of the resources we already have.
We have the technology and understanding to implement all of these techniques. Now, it comes down to economics and prioritization. As the saying from Plato goes, “Necessity is the mother of all invention.” As the water crisis spreads, more money and human resources will be put into place to manage these techniques and further develop desalination as an affordable option.