Running Head : Greening Of Cities Are Amazing And Wonderful Place For People

Pollution continues to pose an enormous threat to residents of urban cities worldwide. In the August 2008 Monthly Update, it is stated that approximately 800,000 deaths each year can be attributed to outdoor air pollution, making pollution the single most harmful environmental hazard to human health in urban areas (Kallman). The fact that pollution kills hundreds of thousands of people each year alone portrays just how dangerous living in these conditions can be. Kallman writes about a study which proves an increase in upper respiratory diseases, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality, and low birth weights when exposed to air pollutants (August 2008: Monthly Update). These can be very serious diseases and complications which, when contracted, can lead to death or very serious illnesses. There

People seldom take the time to stop and really think about the impact that this development has on the environment and the effect it has on life itself. Inconveniences to those of a community tend to become the focus of developers’ agendas. Building new parking lots and four-story car garages so people can park their cars closer to their destination, as the thought of a long walk seems too much to bear. As more areas are developed, nature’s balance is disrupted, causing the destruction of animal’s natural habitats, reduction of plant diversity, and over-cultivated soil. A community created by man, often at the expense of the environment, supplants the beautiful and life-sustaining environment created by nature. The urban progression has destroyed the natural habitat of many plants and animals, dramatically altering the atmosphere in the

Both studies’ discussions indicate that by improving living conditions in urban areas, we can improve health disparities like asthma and improve quality of life. Urban housing conditions have proven to be factors that relate children’s health disparities such as asthma to the built

The United States and its population pride themselves on setting the trend. Whether it’s the newest clothing line, the best recording artist, or a slightly more important issue, Americans pride themselves in setting the pace on issues for the rest of the world. One issue that has caught our attention is the term “urban greening”. This is defined as taking an urban area and making it more “green” by adding parks, building green roofs on apartments, or closing power plants and other harmful industrial areas to create a more environmentally safe area (Brasuell, 2014). When a low-income area, with many undesirable environmental qualities, starts becoming greener, it causes a negative effect on that population (Regan, n.d). While their housing is now better, the neighborhood becomes increasingly desirable, causing a spike in cost of living and other expenses. Now that the rent has increased, the original tenants cannot afford the new prices, and they are forced to move out. This process is called “environmental gentrification”. This term has sparked numerous debates due to it’s two polar opposite sides. While environmental justice strives to provide equal development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and quality, these qualities are what makes low-income areas desirable. Imagine a low-income area in New York City, where a neighborhood is next to several production plants and is not near any

The green infrastructural plan: PlaNYC, specializes in a form of city planning that focuses on achieving a greener and greater New York. The goals of the plaNYC looks to strengthen the economy, combat climate change, and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers by implementing environmentally friendly goals. PlaNYC specifically targets ten areas, of which are Housing and neighborhoods; parks and public spaces, brownfields; waterways; water supply; transportation; energy; air quality; solid waste; and climate change. As generation’s come and go, different plans and projects arise accordingly to how the city is affected. In this generation, PlaNYC

Center City, the downtown area of Philadelphia, has numerous sections of public green space that are easily accessible to citizens within the area. It takes some residents no time at all to ride a bike through the city, or simply walk down the street and have a great experience with forms green space. Traveling through Center City, could lead some to think that the rest of the Philadelphia has a similar amount of greenery available, but this is not actually the case. In neighborhoods approximately 15 minutes away, the common sight of treeless streets, barren lots, and spaces cluttered with litter can be found on practically every block. They tend to be neighborhoods that have low household incomes or high levels of poverty. The “green disparity”

The author Lisa M. Weston of ’’Building cities for Young People: Why We Should Design Cities with Preteens and Young Teens in Mind,’’ believes that cities should be built for children between 11 to 15 years old. The construction of a city depends on the group of ages for whom people built it, and studies shown that if architects, engineers, etc. have to target one group for their building it should be for the 11 years old to 15 years old. Indeed, children aged between 11 to 15 years old have less choices of transportation, and they are more in need to move from one place to another than adults or babies. Consequently, children should have access to schools, libraries, parks, etc. by walking or bicycling, two accessible ways for them to travel

A sustainable city is when harmony is reached between the environment, economy and society. Environmentally, sustainable cities are ecologically friendly by using alternative sources of energy such as solar or wind power. Economically, governments should share a similar decision-making process with institutions and with the public by having a common belief in what should be done by improving sustainability. Sorensen, Marcotullio, and Grant (2004), find that a good decision making process consists of planning and control at the municipal and national political levels which would allow local level functions to become reinforced. Socially, sustainable cities are classless, meaning that there are no social divisions which serve as limits; leading to a more equal society. One of the many ideas would be using mixed housing to remove the class divisions between people. Also, city streets would be walkable, with businesses and services located at close proximity to promote a healthier lifestyle and serve as an alternative to using cars for transportation. The writers differ in their analysis when examining the approaches to improving sustainability in cities. This section will analyze four important ideas on how cities can become more sustainable.

This topic is very significant because over the past several decades, urban and neighborhood planners have strayed away from green spaces throughout their projects. Green spaces encourage interaction among citizens as well as improving the environment in the vicinity. In this divisive political climate, it is almost necessary to provide areas where families and individuals can come together and enjoy a less stressful environment.

London, full with people and skyscrapers. There is concrete everywhere you look. People would have gone crazy with concrete madness if there were not green spaces. Green spaces are essential for the city and humans living in the city. Without it, people in the city would have been serious ill or even dead because of the smog. So, it is very important that London cares for it 's green spaces. London is too big to be maintained by itself, that is why there are boroughs. Each borough maintains it own space. Of course, each of the boroughs has it 's own strategy. Two of the boroughs were particularly interesting, because of the biodiversity and the strategy of the borough to maintain and enhance green space.

The urban environment that I live in is my nature. My nature is filled with birds, cats, grass, and flowers. It may not be as abundant with mother nature’s resources compared to most places, but it still provides me with an experience of nature. Nature is not limited to just what we see anymore. However, you must use your senses to truly achieve the full experience of nature. In nature, you must smell the wonderful odors from the flowers, you should use your sight and observe the natural beauty of the ever-changing sky, touch the rough and jagged bark of the trees, and hear the spectacular songs of the birds that fly above you.

Although the concentration of activity and people within cities is frequently perceived to be the main source of environmental problems, it can also have environmental advantages as well, for instance through the sharing of resources and reduced vehicle travel times. Dr. Steemers believes that more intense land use and sharing of infrastructure such as energy, water, drainage, roads, buildings and public transport can greatly reduce the energy per capita in urban areas. He also explains that urban environments can receive huge benefits from the use of combined heat and power (CHP). CHP has the potential to deliver 55% thermal energy and 30% electrical energy by themselves. The two energies combined can typically deliver 85% or more

As cities across the country continue to age and show signs of deterioration, planning boards and city councils push for urban renewal projects that, not only updates existing infrastructure and city amenities, but also sets aside land for cleanup and conversion into parks and greenspace. This wave of green investment is just the latest turn that “urban renewal” has taken since its conception during the 1940s by master builders such as Robert Moses. However, the various stages that are reflected in Atlanta’s own built environment go back further than the 1940s.

In many urban cities, there is often limited green space and almost no larger blocks of trees. Sometimes there may be a park, but it is common to see a city made of concrete and steel. Nik Heynen of the University of Georgia at Athens states, “Urban trees positively affect the quality of life.” I recently visited New York City with my choir. As we flew into the city, we saw water and then buildings, lots of buildings. When we were walking down the streets the air was so much thicker, which makes it harder to breathe. Trash, smoke, pollution, and dust are all in the air in New York City. It becomes nearly overwhelming to breathe. Oddly enough, trees may actually help people breathe easier - in the sense that they can feel a little less worried about crime. Many urban legends treat vegetation in cities as a hiding place for muggers, carjackers and drug dealers. However, new studies published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning in three

Urban Forest plays a very important role in restoring the relationship between man and the natural environment ensuring better quality of life. Urban Forests contribute to the retention of air pollution, although this property has been occasionally overrated. The use of trees as form of protection against pollution in polluted environments is a common practice in many developed countries. In 2012, approximately 3,732,500 people died worldwide, consequence of ambient air pollution (WHO, 2014). Several studies have proved the importance and benefits of trees in urban areas: reduction in air pollution through air purification rates, absorptions of particulate matters, reduction of need of energy, through air conditioning and heating, which