Urban metabolism in Hong Kong - Essay Example

?Urban Metabolism in Hong Kong TASK Urban metabolism is determined as a model which facilitates to quantify and analyze the overall fluxes relatedto energy, material, and water along with wastes into as well as out of an urban based region. This model renders all-inclusive information regarding the prevailing health of a respective city. In addition, information related to elements such as material cycling, energy efficiency, waste management and efficacy of infrastructure can be derived from this process (University of Toronto, “Understanding the Urban Metabolism”). The primary aim of this study is to provide a detailed evaluation concerning the various aspects relating to urban metabolism in Hong Kong. In addition, there are other factors pertaining to the various attributes of the region which will examined and the different components of the region’s inputs and outputs pertaining to energy, water, airborne contaminants and solid wastes among others will be assessed. The study would facilitate to assess the influence of engineered infrastructure on metabolism of Hong Kong based on the derived concept (Douglas, Goode, Houck and Wang 1-70). Thesis Statement. This study intends to identify the prevailing urban metabolism in Hong Kong. For accomplishment of this broad aspect, various studies pertaining to the determination of the particular region’s energy efficiency, waste management and infrastructural efficacy would be examined in a precise manner. In relation to the aspects of metabolism, the country of Hong Kong has been chosen. Hong Kong is recognized as special administrative region of the People's Republic of China. It has land mass that constitute an area of 1,104 km2. It has a total population of seven million natives. Hong Kong consists of three territories i.e. New Territories, Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. The country is located on the south coast regions of China (Terri 1-50). Metabolism of a country is likely to be affected by way of various factors that may vary. In relation to Hong Kong, the factors may constitute different attributes i.e. transportation system, utilization of soil, lifestyles of the individuals, climatic conditions and factors pertaining to the environmental aspects among others. In relation to the determination of the following attributes, an appropriate report concerning the metabolism facts of the concerned country will be determined (Terri 1-80). TASK 2: Source: (Rhodes, Warren, and Koenig 347-359; Rhodes, Warren, and Koenig 429-438; Pacific consulting Group, “Hong Kong”: Kennedy, Cuddihy and Yan, “The Changing Metabolism of Cities”: Science Council of Japan, “Urban Metabolism in Asian Cities with Emphasis on Hong Kong”; Air Services Group, “Air Quality in Hong Kong”). TASK 3: In this part of the study, reports pertaining to the various sustainable ways that can be effectively utilized to curb the problems associated with metabolism in Hong Kong will be widely evaluated in an in-depth manner. There are certain factors pertaining to urban infrastructure that can result in making the particular aspect possible. Urban infrastructure can result in making various changes in a country and can also bring about improvement in the rates of metabolism in Hong Kong. Urban infrastructure may be related to improved transportation systems that can very well lead to the development of a particular nation. It can also facilitate the overall development in the sustainable energy efficiency in Hong Kong and can lay a helping hand towards the aspects of metabolism development (Terri 1-80). Urban infrastructure can lead to the development of resources of a particular nation and can bring about diversity in the management of resources in a very efficient manner. This aspect can prove to be very beneficial for the development of Hong Kong. In case of urban metabolism in Hong Kong, a precise focus on management of metabolic rates emanating from residual wastes and other sorts of energy consuming activities can enable Hong Kong to ensure better environment for its citizens (Tanner 1-50). In this similar context, the greenhouse gas emissions i.e. Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrous oxide (N2O) and Methane (CH4) among others can result in creating a substantial large amount of negative impacts in the overall environment of a particular nation. In order to ensure sustainability in terms of urban metabolism in Hong Kong, there are certain broad strategies that can adopted by way of making variable changes in the infrastructure of the particular nation. As the level of metabolism of every country tends to change at a variable amount, there are certain steps that are needed to be ascertained to ensure all-round sustainability in Hong Kong. Broad changes pertaining to the developmental aspects are needed to be exercised for controlling urban metabolism. Usage of harmful chemicals such as Hydrogen peroxide, Digoxin and Ethylene glycol among others in the factories and industries should be minimized and instead less harmful chemical are needed to be utilized. Also, greenhouse effect needs to be reduced by a considerable level (Douglas, Goode, Houck and Wang 1-100). Urban metabolism triggers different aspects of developmental characteristics involving all-round progress in the overall context of a nation. In addition, the various developmental aspects pertaining to the elimination of waste materials from the city, production and procurement of energy and conservation of natural water among other broad aspects can very well provide great aid in the determination of the urban metabolism in Hong Kong. Moreover, it will not only ensure urban metabolism but will also provide great aid in the adversities related to greenhouse effect and other parameters of harmful gases are mentioned above. Thus, if all these aspects are ensured then it will also result in the prevention of atmospheric degradation to a very large extent and will ensure improvement in the health of people which is very important. Furthermore, the broad aspects of urban metabolism can be ascertained by way of making variable changes in the infrastructure of the concerned country. This could prove to be a great source of strength for the particular nation because through making effective changes in the infrastructure the country will be able to ascertain comprehensive development but it may pose certain amount of weaknesses as it will make the country fully dependent on the concepts of urban metabolism (Girardet 1-100; Terri 1-150). TASK 4: Analogy of various aspects of urban metabolism highlighted varied number of aspect that can be adopted to ensure efficient urban metabolism in the overall context of Hong Kong. Based on an appropriate analysis, the analogy has proved to be quite similar in relation to a natural entity. The analogy between Hong Kong and any other natural entity can lead to valid results as all the analysis were undertaken based upon the importance of the aspect of urban metabolism. The analogy seemed to work well in relation to the overall context of the concerned city and also it can prove to provide positive results in other countries as well. If all the development aspects that were recommended in the above sections are utilized in the same manner then definitely it can lead to varied amount of results. However, there may be instances in which the analogy may fall apart in situations if the aspects of development of urban metabolism are not utilized in an ideal manner. It may also result in giving rise to environmental degradation and the greenhouse effect. The analogy has proved to be very useful in understanding Hong Kong as it gave a detailed picture about the alarming factors associated with urban metabolism and also provided great aid in determining the various ways through which urban metabolism can be improved in the particular country. Understanding the aspects of urban metabolism at times undermines certain factors pertaining to the various aspects of other developmental strategies such as industrialization and economic interventions which could be utilized to ensure maintenance of urban metabolism to even a larger extent. The strengths definitely offer sufficient value to outweigh the weaknesses because the study provided appropriate recommendations that can be effectively utilized to ensure all-round urban metabolism in the particular country. It would not be more or less correct to think about a city as an ecosystem versus as an organism because both the aspects lay equal importance in the overall context of living organism that comprises human beings, plants and animals. There are a few amount differences that are implied by each analogy i.e. ecosystem and organism (Mieg and Topfer 1-130; Terri 1-100). An ecosystem is a group of living organism i.e. plants, microbes and animals that are living together in concurrence with the non-living components namely mineral soil, air and water in the environment whereas in a biological context, organisms are referred as the neighboring living system that primarily consists of micro organisms, fungus and animals in which all these living organisms persist in the living world (Krueger and Gibbs 1-50). Thus, it can be logically argued that the terms ecosystem and organisms are different from each other as both these terms pose similar but different meanings in the context of a living world as an ecosystem represents a broad area where different types of living organisms co-exist. But in case of organisms, they seem to survive their lives in earth. Works Cited “Air Quality in Hong Kong.” Air Services Group, 1997. Web. 10 Sep. 2013. Douglas, Ian, David Goode, Mike Houck and Rusong Wang. The Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology. United States: Taylor & Francis, 2010. Print. Girardet, Herbert. The Gaia Atlas of Cities: New Directions for Sustainable Urban Living. United States: UN-HABITAT, 1996. Print. Krueger, Rob and David Gibbs. The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban Political Economy in the United States and Europe. United States: Guilford Press, 2007. Print. Kennedy, Christopher, John Cuddihy and Joshua Engel-Yan “The Changing Metabolism of Cities.” Journal of Industrial Ecology (2007): 43-59. Print. Mieg, Harald A and Klaus Topfer. Institutional and Social Innovation for Sustainable Urban Development. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2013. Print. Mottershead, Terri. Sustainable Development in Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2004. Print. “Hong Kong.” Pacific Consulting Group. 2013. Web. 10 Sep. 2013. Rhodes, Kimberley Warren and Albert Koenig. “Ecosystem appropriation by Hong Kong and its implications for sustainable development.” Ecological Economics 39 (2001): 347-359. Print. Rhodes, Kimberley Warren and Albert Koenig. “Escalating Trends in the Urban Metabolism of Hong Kong: 1971–1997.” AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 30.7 (2001): 429-438. Print. “Urban Metabolism in Asian Cities with Emphasis on Hong Kong.” Science Council of Japan. 2012. Web. 10 Sep. 2013. Tanner, Adler. Urban Ecosystems. United States: Cambridge University Press, n.d. Print. “Understanding the Urban Metabolism.” University of Toronto, n.d. Web. 10 Sep. 2013. Read More