Climate change and Environmental Planning

Climate change has been happening for hundreds of thousands of years, and up until very recently, the majority of these shifts were brought on by natural events, such as ice ages and subsequent post-glacial eras. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have historically been higher than they are today. Some of the consequences of climate change include change in economy, damage to transportation of cities, affecting both mental and physical health of the mortals, change in natural environment and infrastructures such as bridges, buildings etc.

Given that they handle both adaptation and mitigation, urban planning and design are among the best instruments for combating climate change. Mitigation is a global effort that entails cutting carbon emissions that are associated with a rise in global temperatures. Communities can cut emissions in a variety of ways, one of which is through reducing the need for automobile travel using the New Urbanism concepts.

The measures that individuals can do to produce good outcomes have frequently received a lot of attention in historical environmental movements. For specific environmental problems, this technique works well. The individual responsibility approach, however, does not yield the outcomes required to address present and potential hazards because climate change is a hugely global and complicated issue. While individual activities are important, it is also crucial to consider how society infrastructure as a whole affect how much carbon each person emits. The modernist approach to development has resulted in low density projects and huge stand-alone single-family homes, which significantly increase a household's carbon dependency when combined with other critical urban policies.

Despite the fact that climate change is a problem that all people will eventually have to deal with, regardless of where they reside, its effects are frequently most severe in the Arctic, where many people live in relative isolation. Actions outside of the Arctic must be taken as well if our civilization is to confront Arctic climate change in the ensuing decades. While recent environmental movements have frequently pushed for the "individual action" approach, in which people make their own changes to reduce their own environmental footprints, it is essential that we in the developed world also evaluate our society's development patterns and societal fixtures, which rely heavily on carbon intensive resources.

Major concerns of Climate Change:

Effects on geographical aspects:

If emissions are not reduced, sea levels could rise by as much as 3.61 feet by the end of the century due to melting glaciers and sea ice, as well as the volume expansion of warmer water. Low-lying areas, especially island nations and densely populated coastal cities like New York City and Mumbai, would be completely destroyed by the degree (and velocity) of this transformation.

However, even at much lower levels, sea level rise is still expensive, hazardous, and disruptive. By 2050, scientists project that the sea level will increase by one foot in the United States, routinely causing damage to infrastructure like highways, sewage treatment facilities, and even power plants. By the end of the century, beaches that generations of families have frequented might be gone.

Invading freshwater upland aquifers, which we rely on for agriculture and drinking water, as well as coastal habitats can both be harmed by rising sea levels. Life in countries like Bangladesh, where one-quarter of the land is less than 7 feet above sea level, is already changing as a result of saltwater intrusion.

Climate change affects the variables that cause inland and urban floods, such as snowmelt and severe rain, in addition to coastal flooding brought on by sea level rise. Our country's floodplains are predicted to expand by about 45 percent by 2100 as sea level rise and harsh weather continue to be exacerbated by global warming. A third of Pakistan was submerged by devastating flooding in 2022 as a result of severe rainfall combined with melting glaciers and snow.

Effects on weather:

We are likely to suffer more intense heat waves each summer as a result of this rise in the global average temperature, which is seemingly little but significant and escalating. Even local news meteorologists are beginning to link stretches of record-breaking days to new long-term trends, which are particularly worrisome in areas where housing and infrastructure weren't constructed with warming temperatures in mind. Furthermore, heat waves are the main contributor to weather-related mortality in the US, making them more than merely uncomfortable.

Effects on humans and animals:

Rapid and fundamental climate change disrupts (or in some cases completely destroys) the habitat that species has evolved gradually to over millennia. Particularly harmed are the habitats of animals that are already threatened by other factors. Animals that depend on ice, like walruses and penguins, won't do well as the ice sheets diminish. Coral bleaching, an increasingly frequent event caused by abrupt changes in ocean temperature, is the starvation of coral reefs.

Millions of migrating birds lose their nesting areas and watering holes as wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Midwest disappear. Given that wetlands have been lost by more than 85% since 1700, many species are currently battling to survive. Additionally, when the sea level rises, many coastal habitats that are home to numerous birds, invertebrate, and other marine species will be submerged or destroyed.

Air quality is worsened by climate change. It increases our exposure to dangerous wildfire smoke and ozone smog, both of which are bad for our health, especially for people who already have problems like asthma or heart disease.

As their carriers may dwell in more areas or thrive for longer seasons, insect-borne diseases like malaria and Zika become more common in a warming environment. Tick-borne Lyme illness has nearly doubled in frequency during the past 30 years in the US.

Increased frequency or intensity of extreme weather occurrences puts thousands of people at risk for harm, disease, and death every year. An estimated one billion people will be at risk of heat stress at a 2-degree Celsius increase in the world average temperature. Thousands of people perished in record-breaking heat waves across Europe in only the summer of 2022. Weeks later, record-breaking urban flooding claimed the lives of scores in the United States and Korea, while more than 1,500 people died in Pakistan, where the stagnant water and unhealthy conditions that resulted posed an even greater threat.

Possible Solutions:

It might be intimidating to consider climate change. Our communities and ecosystems are suffering greatly as a result of its causes, which we have been aware of for many years.

The good news is that we now understand exactly what must be done in order to prevail in the war against climate change, and we are making observable, significant progress. Every day, new innovations in sustainable energy, electric vehicle technology, and energy efficiency are being developed. And nations are coordinating and working together at never-before-seen levels to address the most critical issue of our day, including Canada, China, India, and the United States.

Adapting to Renewable Energy:

The key to winning the battle against climate change is shifting away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy. Here are the most prevalent renewable energy sources, along with one source of energy that is categorically not renewable yet is frequently (incorrectly) listed.

Through effective Transportation:

To achieve net-zero global emissions by 2050, it is crucial to reduce pollution from the billions of vehicles that travel the globe today. Transportation is a major source of greenhouse gases (GHG).

Less than 8% of vehicles sold globally in 2021 were electric vehicles (EVs), but by 2035, it's predicted that EV sales would make up more than 50% of all new vehicle sales. Governments all around the world aren't simply planning for an all-electric future; they're really bringing it about by establishing objectives and legally obligatory conditions to gradually phase out the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

With multiple nations and automakers announcing plans to phase out gas-powered automobiles and light trucks, 2035 is predicted to be a breakthrough year for the adoption of EVs and the fight against climate change. As a "battery on wheels," EVs have the ability to send electricity back to the network when demand is at its highest, preventing blackouts. This move will also improve our grid.

We must also take into account all of the varied ways we travel and incorporate sustainability into each one. We can reduce the number of car trips and prevent millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year by expanding access to public transit, including buses, ride-sharing services, subways, and streetcars, as well as by embracing congestion pricing.

We can further cut emissions by promoting zero-emission modes of transportation like biking and walking. It will take more than just talking to promote these alternative modes of transportation. Leaders at the local, state, and federal levels must provide the necessary financing, planning, and infrastructure.

Through effective Infrastructure:

Our buildings are the single largest source of carbon pollution in the majority of American cities due to the energy they use to operate the lights, appliances, heat and cool them, cook, and heat water. These figures will decrease as buildings become more energy efficient, for example by replacing their windows and adding insulation to the walls and attics. Because of this, it's crucial to increase public awareness of the cost- and carbon-saving changes that people can make in their homes and workplaces and make it simpler for people to buy and install energy-efficient technology. Examples of this kind of technology include heat pumps, which can be used to both heat and cool spaces, and certified appliances.

It is imperative that governments and commercial companies make a commitment to building decarbonization beyond what can be done by individuals, which entails reducing the use of fossil fuels in buildings and replacing them with clean-powered systems. All newly constructed homes, offices, and other buildings should be equipped with effective all-electric heating, cooling, and hot water systems, according to city and state regulations. It would also be beneficial if municipalities and states adopted or updated their building codes in accordance with the most recent and stringent energy conservation standards. Building performance standards are being implemented all around the world, and they call for existing structures to gradually cut their energy use or carbon emissions.

To achieve these changes on the scale we need, we must invest in affordable housing so that energy-efficient and decarbonized dwellings are available to all homeowners and renters regardless of income level.

A small step with industries:

Twenty-five percent of GHG emissions in the United States and forty percent worldwide are attributed to heavy industry, which includes the factories and other facilities that make our products. A small number of carbon-intensive items, including basic chemicals, iron and steel, cement, aluminum, glass, and paper, are responsible for the majority of industrial emissions. Industrial facilities are frequently significant producers of air and water pollution that have a direct impact on human health.

The fact that many industrial facilities will continue to operate for many years makes things more difficult because the emissions targets for 2050 are really just one investment cycle away. Starting investments and plans early is essential given the lengthy timelines for developing and upgrading industrial locations. What might successful decarbonization look like in industrial processes? They ought to drastically cut back on both regional pollution and heavy industry's greenhouse gas emissions.

In the upcoming decade, they should be adaptable and readily accessible, particularly so that less developed countries can embrace these cleaner techniques and develop without raising emissions. And they ought to support manufacturing in a way that generates useful employment.

The Future of Climate Change:

Our towns are already experiencing the first wave of effects, which are also being seen on the evening news. A further 250,000 deaths per year are anticipated to result from factors like starvation, insect-borne illnesses, and heat stress in the near future, between 2030 and 2050. Furthermore, the World Bank predicts that by 2050, climate change will have forced more than 140 million people from their homes in South Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa.

The extent to which the climate problem impacts our lives, however, depends on whether world leaders choose to choose a different path. By the end of the century, temperatures are expected to rise by a disastrous 4.3 degrees Celsius (or around 8 degrees Fahrenheit) if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, according to scientists. How might such a warm world appear? Water-related wars. crowded hospitals must deal with illness transmission. Diminished fisheries dead reefs of coral. Even deadlier heat waves. These are only a few of the effects that climate scientists have projected.

A way forward:

The solution to the climate problem depends on us as individuals. This is true not only for our ongoing advocacy efforts with legislators and our community activism, but also for the climate activities we take in our day-to-day lives. We can make a difference by turning off the fossil fuels in our homes and becoming more conscientious of the climatic impact of the food we consume, our shopping habits, how we travel, the use of plastics and fossil fuels, and the companies we choose to support (or not support). Real change only occurs when everyone works together, and we can do far more than just reducing carbon emissions.

We have a commitment to think through the consequences of our decisions and to confirm that they genuinely contribute to lessening rather than merely shifting the burdens of climate change. It's critical to keep in mind that some communities, namely low-income communities and communities of colour, are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change, which intersect with and exacerbate so many other environmental, economic, and social challenges. Because of this, it is the duty of our leaders to give the needs of these communities first consideration when formulating climate policies. We are not addressing the causes of the climate issue if individuals who are on the front lines are not involved in discussions about climate solutions or do not experience the advantages of things like cleaner air and greater job prospects.

References:

Cooper, L. (2019, January 31). Is the solution to climate change better urban planning? The role of urban infrastructure in driving individual carbon footprints - The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. https://jsis.washington.edu/news/is-the-solution-to-climate-change-better-urban-planning-the-role-of-urban-infrastructure-in-driving-individual-carbon-footprints/
December 13, & Turrentine, 2022 J. (2022, December 13). What Are the Solutions to Climate Change? NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-solutions-climate-change
How climate change is going to affect cities, urban spaces | Kinder Institute for Urban Research. (n.d.). Kinder Institute for Urban Research | Rice University. https://kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/how-climate-change-going-affect-cities-urban-spaces#:~:text=With%20extra%20heat%2C%20the%20actual
October 24, & Lindwall, 2022 C. (2022, November 24). What Are the Effects of Climate Change? NRDC. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-effects-climate-change#environment

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