Sustainable Development: Grey and Green Infrastructure - Term Paper Example

Grey and Grееn Infrаstruсturе: Adding Value to Our Natural Сарitаl By Professor Class University City Date of submission Grey and Grееn Infrаstruсturе: Adding Value to Our Natural Сарitаl Introduction Development is the major driver of habitat degradation and loss of biodiversity in most countries globally. The construction industry uses more natural resources than any other industry world over. However, continuous use of natural resources results in environmental degradation. Currently, there are measures in all industries meant to control the usage of such resources in order to enhance environmental sustainability. Just like other industries, the construction industry has also taken necessary steps in changing its practices so that it can meet the requirements of the present generation, without depriving the future generations the opportunity of meeting their needs (Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) (Madrigal, 2011). Since this industry uses concrete in most of its operations, it needs to control the frequency of reconstructions of structures to limit usage of this material. Engineering of most composites that produce cement to increase the strength of the material minimizes reconstruction of structures within short periods since the raw materials last indeterminately. Apart from technological development, industries are working to ensure that their current materials and methods of operation are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient. However, the rising populations also contribute to the rising rates of development especially with people running into the urban regions to look for better jobs, enhanced amenities, and access to quality living conditions. Concern for the Green Development Environmental sustainability is important considering the importance of nature in ensuring that people access quality lifestyle. Every activity carried out in any industrial activity influences the environment in one way or another, which call for an immediate action to remedy the prevailing conditions. As a result, most industries recommend the establishment of the environmental departments that deals with matters relating to environmental conservation and compliance with occupational safety and health. With regard to these challenges, there clear need for spatial planning to ensure the integration of issues associated with biodiversity and climate change adaptation (Bergen & Carr, 2003, 12). Some of the existing tools that aim to prevent negative environmental influences and mitigate the identified potential threats during the development of the plans include Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment. However, the utilization of these tools alone is significantly a reactive approach, which calls for a proactive development of Green Infrastructure and ecological connectivity to address issues associated with fragmentation which in turn will have a dual function of improving biodiversity and enhancing the level of reliance and adaptation to climate change. The Green Infrastructure and associated goods and services from the ecosystem require to be viewed as important infrastructure globally in a similar manner as other sectors such as transport and energy networks, which are viewed as important to ensuring sustainable development. Infrastructure supports people’s lives and livelihoods since it manages the access to important ecosystem resources such as food, water, energy, transportation, and other critical activities including waste disposal. Development of regions is important, however, with less consideration of the environmental value and quality, people are susceptible to challenges associated with environmental degradation. Moreover, it provides the foundation on which most communities, economies, and security are constructed and thrive or falter (Meyers, 2012, 127). The strength and resilience of the systems used in developing the infrastructures are correlated directly to the strength and resilience of the areas people currently reside and into uncertain future. Most developers take infrastructure and its resilience for granted until that moment when something fails, or the repairing cost becomes exorbitant. On the other hand, The Grey infrastructure has traditionally been able to attract a lot of attention. These infrastructures include roads, power grids, and water systems. Nonetheless, the green infrastructure, the natural ecosystems, and the features responsible for the provision of the valuable services are just as significant. Thus, people need to support both the resilient and vibrant areas by ensuring that the environmental quality in such areas remains positive (Coad, 2012, 133). In the past, the green infrastructural systems were often excluded when planning, with the quantity and value of the services that they provide, left unaccounted for as positive externalities (Sorensen, & Okata, 2011, 242). However, with the rising investments needed for repairing and maintaining the aging stock of grey infrastructural systems, and the escalating environmental pressures from the ever-increasing rate of urban expansion, the value of the ecosystem services which have for long term been entering the towns, regional planning process, and management equations predominantly (Essex, 2005, 145). Compounded by the rising regulatory pressure to consider and have measures that address the quality of both water and air, the need to anticipate and adapt to the localized effects associated with climate variability, and drive for economic competitiveness, all with inclusion of the constricted finances, cities, and regions across various countries. Factors Influencing Sustainable Development Policies A sustainable environment reflects the case of balance and re-warding of the determinants such as environmental goals, economic, social, and political status. According to Brundtland’s report, “Our Common Future,” sustainable development is the development that satisfies the requirements of the present generation without compromising its ability to satisfy the needs of the future generation. The report insisted on the need to acknowledge and protect the diversity of the genes, species, and all organisms both in terrestrial and aquatic environment. Such protection is possible especially through focusing on protecting environmental quality by restoring, developing, and maintaining the habitats that are important to various species. In addition, there is need for serious environment laws that encourage assessment of the environmental resources and recommendation of the mitigation measures as a means of upholding the quality and aesthetic nature of the environment (Machrafi, 2012, 98). This implies the rational management of resources; human, natural, and economic with an aim of satisfying the important needs people within a long span of time. Sustainable development implies the fulfilling different conditions such as preservation of the overall balance, respecting the environment, and preventing the exhaustion of the natural resources. Reduced waste production, rationalization of the production, and the amount of energy consumed requires implementation (Heikkurinen, 2010, 147). Sustainable development is viewed more or less clean break from other methods of development, which greatly contributes and still leads in worrying about the social and ecological damage both globally and regionally. To qualify as a sustainable, the development process needs to integrate the three elements: fairness, environmental protection, and economic efficiency. Any sustainable project needs to be based on a better-developed method of consultation between the local communities and the members that they comprise. Therefore, the success of such policies also depends on consumers accepting some constraints while the citizens observe some of the requirements with regard to the transparency and participation during the formulation process. There are several factors influencing policy development in countries that would encourage sustainable development. The major factor is the economic state, which defines the various economic activities carried. If the people do not understand the important of having a healthy and stable environmental condition, then it becomes difficult to enforce the laws that encourage sustainable development (Sobha, 2008, 270). Most of the environmental impact assessments carried out reflect similar duplication works carried out initially in other locations, which also means that most experts are concerned with their financial states, and incomes they earn from carrying out the feasibility study without consideration of the repercussions associated with such activities. Moreover, there is need for the achievement of stability to ensure a sustainable development (Marshall, 2005, 182). There are various aspects of stability that influence sustainable development including political, livelihood, and economic. With regard to sustainable development and political stability, it is important to focus beyond the civil unrest and wars but regarding trust that people have in the government. Most of the environmental policies are mostly politically formulated which gives those in power the ability to influence the outcomes and the effectiveness of the policies. Corruption is becoming one of the greatest menaces that are affecting the performance of many countries. If corrupt leaders are in power, then the quality of the environmental condition is often the least of their worries. As a result, they implement laws and draft policies that only guarantee the stability of their financial conditions. Another factor likely to affect the quality of the policy developed for sustainable development is the stability of the livelihood of the citizens. With the rising populations, inflations, and high cost of living, most people are resorting to economic activities that have negative impact on the environmental conditions. The fact that the population is rising, there is urbanization, and need for food, people are encroaching the areas that were initially considered protected owing to the environmental resources that they contain (Nordic Centre for Spatial Development, 2005). The policies that protect such areas are important, however, with the rate of development, it becomes difficult to implement such policies. Although the weather and growth patterns have become unpredictable, some countries are considering the areas with good environments to accommodate the developmental activities with less regard to the animals. Urban and Rural Sustainable Development Issues From the environmental point, as the urban areas continue to grow, they place pressure on the available resources such as land, energy, and resources that might contribute to the serious environmental threats. Moreover, the increased significance means that the environmentally sustainable solutions for some of the urban areas have crucial potential for mitigating the consumption of the resources. Socially, the urban regions in most countries present an opportunity for people with varying backgrounds to interact which also sites where both poverty and social exclusion are evident. Therefore, it is significant to overcome these challenges while developing an equitable society and influencing the diversity of other important elements, from the environmental and economically point to health and safety. Finally, with the high concentration of the economic activities within the urban regions, they serve as economic and innovation drivers of different countries. A balance between these three core elements is important to the development of high quality, environmentally sustainable, equitable, and economically prosperity of the cities. A significant issue with regard to rural development is how the activities in these areas expose the regions to substantial changes in the forestry and agricultural activities. In addition, these areas experience substitution of the economic activities with the rising level of globalization, which pose serious threat to environmental quality. Some of the changes are characterized by the numerous changes in the functionality of the land use patterns like agriculture and wind energy included as some of the components that influence the characteristics of the land. To react to such changes, it is significant to determine the typologies through reflecting on the amount of change and intensity considered as important tools for both the policy and planning processes (Morelli, 2011, 9). The mapping changes in the land use patterns that interact with different socio-economic development are crucial in determining the extent the trends are sustainable and they extent that they are likely to compromise the development activities in the past. In connection with the analysis of the efficiency with regard to the regional performance, the changes reflect the extent that some patterns of land use have been able to achieve the policy goals towards ensuring sustainable development. With reference to rural sustainability, Japan is one of the countries facing the challenges associated with such issues especially in the management of the recovered beaver populations. In addition, the country also experiences land management issues in its depopulated areas. There is also a need for the multilevel governance for the marine protected areas that has over the years been experiencing serious degradation. References Bergen, L. K., & Carr, M. H. 2003. Establishing Marine Reserves How Can Science Best Inform Policy? Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 45(2), 8- 19. Coad, J. 2012. Green technology. Chicago, IL: Raintree. Essex, S. 2005. Rural change and sustainability: Agriculture, the environment and communities. Wallingford, UK: CABI. Heikkurinen, P. 2010. Image differentiation with corporate environmental responsibility. Corp. Soc. Responsib. Environ. Mgmt, 17(3), 142-152. Machrafi, H. 2012. Green energy and technology. Sharjah, U.A.E: Bentham Science Publishers. Madrigal, A. 2011. Powering the dream: The history and promise of green technology. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press. Marshall, G. R. 2005. Economics for collaborative environmental management: Renegotiating the commons. London: Earthscan. Meyers, R. A. 2012. Encyclopedia of sustainability science and technology. New York: Springer. Morelli, J. 2011. Environmental Sustainability: A Definition for Environmental Professionals. Journal of Environmental Sustainability, 1(1), 1-10. Nordic Centre for Spatial Development. 2005. Sustainable development, urban and rural planning - Nordregio. Retrieved from http://www.nordregio.se/en/Metameny/About- Nordregio/Research--Development/Themes-of-our-expertise/Sustainable-development- urban-and-rural-planning-/ Sobha, G. 2008. Green technology: Earth-friendly innovations. New York: Rosen Pub. Sorensen, A., & Okata, J. 2011. Megacities: Urban form, governance, and sustainability. Tokyo: Springer. Read More