The Practice of Sustainability in the Big Cities of Europe - Research Paper Example

 The paper is about sustainable urbanism in Europe, which will be achieved by tackling the modes of transport systems in major cities in Europe. It will further describe the mechanisms the European country use to manage the resources in the country. Similarly, a description of the effects of climate change, policies and directions the country puts in place to manage climate change while being innovative will be provided. Multi – modal Transport System in Europe The foundation of sustainable urbanism in Europe depends majorly on multi – modal transportation systems. This form of transportation has spread to the main towns and cities in Europe. Europe could achieve this objective while putting in mind the importance of environment sustainability. The country has prohibited citizens to use the automobile mode of transportation often. This is so even if the country has an increase in the number of automobile owned by the citizens (Beatley 5). The idea of sustainable transport means that the transport ought to be environmental friendly. The transport system must have a minimal negative impact on the environment. This is with the aim of preserving the ecological system and further to promote good health within the country. The idea of having a well sustainable transport system is to protect the ecosystem and also to have a positive contribution to the ecological system (Beatley 9). There are a variety of means of transport in the European countries like the air, road, rail, water, and intermodal among others. The transport system is in a variety of sectors like the passengers freight. The transport means are found in the urban areas, the regional, rural and also in long distance destinations (Beatley 32). The multi – modal form of transport system is essential because it helps in the strengthening of the country’s local economy and also in decreasing the ecological impacts. The chief aim of the multi – modal transport system is to enable movement of citizens from one destination to the other instead of moving the automobile from one point to the other. This is possible through designing of multiple transport system, automobiles, public lanes, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes. Furthermore, the public means of transport like commuter rail, bus, high speed rails, and street cars will be used to serve the needs of the people around the city and regions around (Beatley 47). The development of the multi–modal transport has enabled the European countries to develop in the economic sector. This is because the system has been supporting the local economy of the country. It could achieve this through adequate connection of residents to their specific destinations. The multi–modal means has also helped in facilitation of the movement of goods and services to the population. The presence of the fixed route means of transportation is for the facilitation of the future development of the country’s economy (Beatley 60). The multi–modal transport system has further improved the health and lifestyles of the people in Europe. This is seen in the way the population are mostly employing the options of walking and bicycles as a means of transport. This means of transport has made the populations’ health to improve because of the reduction in the amount of air pollution in the environment (Beatley 3). The utilization of the multi–modal form of transport system has further made the European cities to practice a form of intergovernmental corporation system. This is for the benefit of the transport system management and the people in the region. This is an achievement because both the two parties contribute to the costs together with the help of the local communities and the governing entities (Beatley 3). Management of Resources in European cities The European cities have been able to fulfill and achieve the balance between the accommodation of growth and changes together with the aim of preserving the ecological nature of the country. Europe could accomplish this objective through the implementation of the environmental policies and regulations. The country is thus keen in the maintenance of the cities in areas like wastage disposal methods, the prevention of all forms of pollution to the environment (Beatley 4). The country can cope with the ever-increasing demand of resources like water, food, and energy as the population continues to rise. The country has been able to achieve this by ensuring that the settlement of the population in major cities is done in a specific way to minimize overcrowding. This enables the cities to share the available resources and amenities equally and fairly. The government of Europe further ensures that they practice careful use of land in the cities to support the high population without sacrificing the environmental amenities (Beatley 17). The European cities could maintain high standards in the environmental conservation by utilizing the readily available materials that are energy-saving. This leads to a well and balanced ecological system while innovation is practiced by the population. The cities also use energy from the renewable sources thus able to conserve the environment by preserving the non- renewable energy sources (Beatley 68). An example of a case is the field work interview performed in various cities in Europe. The interview was targeting the people living in the major cities like Amsterdam. The key issues are land use and planning in the city, waste management, environmental policy, transportation system, and energy as well as reduction in carbon-dioxide (Beatley 365). Moreover, the cities have advanced methods of disposing their wastes. The methods have to ensure that the cities remain clean at all times. The cities have a mechanism put in place to ensure that most of the wastes are recycled and, thus not thrown away. This idea has made the cities remain clean and also reuse the waste products thus sustaining the urban environment. Another way of sustaining the ecological, development, and urbanism in the cities is the use of solar energy. This is an example of a renewable source of energy that promotes the greenness within the cities of Europe (Beatley 344). Climate change in Europe During the climate change conference that was held in South Africa, the main objective of the meeting was to have the United States and China take immediate action on the issue of climate changes. The European cities have the new technology that can be used in addressing the climate change issue affecting the world. Thus Europe ought to be given as a good example in the management of the climate change. This is because Europe has been innovative and inventive of new technologies over time and still could practice climate preservation and ecological sustainability. The country has further been able to achieve this goal through the implementation of the set policy that governs the climate and the ecological system. This policy has been put into practice as the country continues to develop, thus leading to a well sustainable environment subsequently not affecting the climate change negatively (Beatley 282). Some of the policies or the programs include the objectives that affect the economic aspects, the safety and security, the environmental aspects, the users’ aspects, the efficiency, and also the equity, and accessibility aspects. The European cities follow the set policies by the authority together with their within policy in sustaining the environment in the cities (Beatley 282). The cities in Europe for instance in London, the population use the renewable form of energy every day. This city has the leading percentage amount of carbon dioxide emission to the environment. The city can supply to its people an approximate of 65% of the energy sources for use with the renewable sources. The other percentage is from the hydro – electric power generation. This shows a positive impact on the environment in the percentage level of carbon-dioxide gas emission within the city. London only emits roughly 2.2 tones of the carbon-dioxide gas annually (Beatley 282). An example of a policy that other nations ought to emulate from Europe is the land policy. This policy is a good example in the urban containment and also the farmland preservation forms of policies. The policy also can be used by other countries like the United States (Beatley 13). Beatley further explains the mechanisms in which the European country put in place to achieve sustainability, which follows four major steps. These steps are the principle of management of the urban areas, thinking of the ecosystem, integration of laws, and policies. Additionally, there is the principle of partnership with other countries and corporations (Beatley 16). The European country has a set of policies with a lead of 25 cities been the most innovative in Europe. The policies are set by the government and are used by the authorities like the municipal and regional leaders in different cities across the European countries. Other ways in which the European cities are capable of sustaining their current urbanism is the presence of different forms of housing and living standards, the cities’ transport systems, and the policies that supports the transport systems like bicycles use while reducing the use of automobile on the roads. This action leads to the promotion of the greenness in the country (Beatley 344). Furthermore, there is ecological budgeting process done by the government of Europe. There is also the practice of green management and accounting as a way of sustaining urbanism in the cities. Some of these cities that practice sustainability are the big towns like London, Zurich, Helsinki, Berlin, Vienna, Stockholm, Copenhagen and also Amsterdam (Beatley 351- 358). Conclusion Europe ought to be a good example of a green country. This is because of the practice of sustainability in the big cities of Europe leading to the greenness of the country and thus a positive effect on the global climate change. Therefore, these cities show that it is possible to practice and also promote sustainability and development of the ecology as a country. These cities provide a firm example of an innovative and also practical idea on the means of sustaining the environment. Thus, this is an essential idea for the other towns across the globe to use as an example of urban and also regional sustainability and policy making. This action will eventually lead to an environment friendly and sustainable enough for living. Works Cited Beatley, Timothy. Green urbanism: learning from European cities. Washington; Island press, 2000. Print. Read More