Green Urbanism—A Solution for the Global South?
Cities have received significant attention. This is because of the challenges and opportunities they are providing us to improve things. Making our cities green will help solve greater challenges (Beatley 2012). To focus on this aspect, now there have been various types of green cities, i.e., the Renewable City, the Carbon Neutral City, the Distributed City, the Biophillic City, the Eco-Efficient City, the Place-Based City, and the Sustainable Transport City (Lehmann 2010).
Green urbanism can help reduce food insecurity and minimize the human impact of climate change. This approach and movement can help us deal with the pressing issues of our time, which are greatly contributing to the challenges for our survival.
Green urbanism means more than just introducing agriculture to urban areas, as mentioned earlier. This movement encourages the practice of growing crops or raising animals within urban areas. This can be done through rooftop gardens, wall-gardens, community-based gardens, and other forms of urban farming. Urban agriculture can provide fresh produce to urban residents, which can reduce the need for food transportation and storage. Moreover, urban agriculture can reduce the amount of land required for farming. It can play a vital role in minimizing the environmental impact of agriculture.
Green urbanism can promote the development of sustainable food systems, which aim to produce food in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible. These systems involve reducing food waste, using renewable energy sources, and minimizing the use of chemicals and other harmful inputs. By promoting sustainable food systems, green urbanization can help reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change.
Another important arena is food security, in which green urbanization can play a determining role. It can help improve food security by increasing access to fresh and healthy food for those people who normally lack easy access to it. Apart from community gardens and farmers' markets, people should be mobilized and encouraged to start roof gardening. Plastic bottles can be used to plant various vegetables, and biowaste can be utilized as fertilizer. The direct outcome would be access to fresh food, increasing food security. While the indirect impacts would be decreasing plastic waste, positively impacting the climate, creating fresh oxygen, improving the physical and emotional health of people, especially elderly people. By reducing food insecurity, green urbanization can help promote social equity and reduce poverty.
This will also result in green infrastructure, such as green roofs and permeable pavement, which can help manage storm water and reduce the urban heat island effect. Green infrastructure can also provide habitat for wildlife and improve air quality, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.
Many countries have already started implementing green urbanization practices. For example, Singapore is known for its innovative green urbanization practices. The country has implemented a range of initiatives such as green roofs, vertical gardens, and rainwater harvesting systems. Denmark is another country that has made significant strides in green urbanization. The country has set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and has implemented a range of policies to promote sustainable transportation, renewable energy, and green building.
Moreover, China has launched a major initiative to promote green urbanization, with a focus on building sustainable cities that are more livable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. The country has invested heavily in renewable energy, green transportation, and low-carbon urban development. Germany has implemented a range of policies to promote green urbanization, including incentives for energy-efficient buildings and investments in public transportation. Canada has also made significant progress in green urbanization, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development. The country is focusing on green buildings, public transportation, and active transportation modes such as cycling and walking.
However, unfortunately mega cities of the Global South are still not making efforts to implement green city policies though they are under various forms of stress. So, in reality, they need it more. Cities like Karachi, Mumbai, and Dhaka are a few examples from the subcontinent which need prompt action as these are densely populated and substantially polluted. Green urbanism appears as the need of the hour. It will can these cities/countries help reduce food insecurity and minimize the human impact on climate change. Otherwise, owing to various pre-existing conditions (Ali and Ali 2022) the forthcoming situation will be more critical as it happened in 2015 when heatwaves killed a few hundred people in Karachi, Pakistan.
References
Ali, Inayat, and Shahbaz Ali. 2022. "Why may COVID-19 overwhelm low-income countries like Pakistan?" Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness no. 16 (1):316-320.
Beatley, Timothy. 2012. Green urbanism: Learning from European cities: Island Press.
Lehmann, Steffen. 2010. The principles of green urbanism: Transforming the city for sustainability: Earthscan London.