Urban Greening and COVID19

Posted by: admin on 23 May 2020 in Articles Leave a comment 932 views 1

by Nicola Noè (with the contribution of Vinicio Stefanello)

For reading I suggest this soundtrack … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRgl-2EOyTILour land

In this moment in which everyone is thinking globally at the restart after the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 emergency, it becomes extremely important to put in perspective not only the causes and effects of what happened, but also and above all try to imagine and propose a future project that will change the course of a development system which has proved unsustainable for the planet, and consequently for the entire human community.
We are talking about global warming and the consequent climate change which represent the largest and most essential problem that humanity has ever faced.

Let’s no forget how Milan was in lockdown

Covid-19

An absolute and unparalleled emergency that was also highlighted by the epochal health and economic crisis caused by Covid-19.

An emergency that without any doubt has been enormously amplified by the problems related to overpopulation and globalization, phenomena whose effects are in turn amplified by climate changes.

It should also be emphasized that – in this post lockdown phase marked by an extreme economic crisis and from an increase in poverty as the western world has not seen for a very long time – it is even more important to find sustainable solutions for both the environment and society.

In fact, the danger is that it will push for an unconditional economic recovery by continuing, indeed increasing, the indiscriminate exploitation of environmental resources.

It would be not only profoundly wrong but also a drama that would lead us inevitably to crash into the next emergency, in an escalation of increasingly serious crises.

The vault of the rainforest at the foot of Kilimanjaro, (ph. Nicola Noè, November 2012).

The data say so

We are currently using 1.75 times the planet’s resources every year.

In 2019, as of July 29, humanity had used the budget of natural resources available annually.

We know that this progression is unsustainable for the environment and therefore for us.

We also know what needs to be done to reverse this trend.

The problem, in fact, is to contain the rise in temperatures in the medium to long term, which is primarily responsible for the progressive climate change (and the environment) and to immediately adapt to the change in the climate and environment already underway. Temperature rise control is achieved by limiting the consumption of fossil resources, ultimately reducing the ecological footprint of our individual and collective actions.

The Carbon Footprint and how do we reduce our ecological footprint?

By consuming less, in general, and by consuming less non-renewable resources, in particular, but also by controlling population growth (we don’t have to reach 10 billion!)

First of all, to reduce our ecological footprint, we have to move less. Let each one question himself in conscience.

Global Footprint Network

At the same time, we must increase all forms of green and sustainable mobility.

All systems to produce renewable energy.

Think of a new tourism model that privileges the quality and not the consumption of the environment (and people) and the production of superfluous goods.

Man

Remember that there is a “network”, which is extended to the whole world (world wide web), which is used to move information instead of people; thus people reduce travel (smart work).

At the same time, policies need to be implemented that enhance young people, give centrality to schools and reduce social inequalities. To think that we have a personal and individual responsibility as well as a collective and social one. Our individual choices affect and are fundamental for a change. It’s hard I know, but you can’t go on like this. Or rather, go on until you hit a wall (famines, pandemics, floods, sea level rise and so on).

So tomorrow we have to organize our life, our consumption, our movements differently. Only together will we be able to do it.

Urban Forests and Urban Greening

We must also strive to transform our cities by increasing their green spaces, parks, internal mobility.

In the coming years, humans will gather more and more in cities, which will host 70% of the world’s population and which will therefore have to ensure an environment conducive to a healthy life for its inhabitants.

In addition, the necessary reduction of the ecological footprint requires, among other interventions , to reduce travel and citizens will no longer be able to leave cities with the same frequency and intensity.

So, only after this long preamble did we finally arrive at the role of urban green.

Milan city centre, Tree Library Park (Gae Aulenti square) – ph. Nicola Noè, May 2020

As a consequence, citizens will have to satisfy the vital need for nature in urban green spaces.

Urban green has first of all a microclimatic effect, reduces the heat island and reduces the effects of anthropic activities (pollution), thus allowing citizens to survive.

In addition, urban greenery will increasingly have the role of offering an alternative to the escape of millions of people from the city every weekend, with an effect on the ecological footprint of the citizen.

Urban greenery must always be sufficiently sufficient to fulfill the functions that are required for the health of urban centers.

Urban green management must be sustainable, it must not itself produce any type of pollution and diasage, neither chemical nor acoustic.

Free notes for sustainable management of urban green

maintenance with electric motors;
use manual equipment (rakes, tree climber);
analysis of the impron ecological maintenance;
land registry and ecosystem balance;
circular economy of mowing of lawns and pruning residues;
horticulture and fruit growing;
urban cultivation: renewal of trees;
monumental trees in parks, large gardens and squares;
search for performance urban green areas;
biodiversity;
limited use of clones;

… (to be completed) …

Appendix

Riprendono i lavori di manutenzione del verde in una città immersa nel silenzio e con aria mai così pura. Credo sia venuta l'ora di migliorare la qualità ambientale delle attività di gestione del verde urbano … non potremmo iniziare, ad esempio, con motori elettrici?

Pubblicato da Nicola Noe su Mercoledì 15 aprile 2020

Noise pollution in the city (listen to the noises in the city in Lockdown)