In recent years, the global population has surged, accompanied by a rapid wave of urbanization. While this urban shift has ushered in enhanced living standards and socio-economic progress for many, it has also triggered a cascade of environmental ramifications. Deforestation, habitat loss, water scarcity, excessive energy consumption, and soaring carbon emissions stand as stark testaments to the unchecked expansion of cities.
The perception persists that growth and environmental preservation are diametrically opposed. Yet, achieving equilibrium between the two has become an overarching imperative in contemporary discourse. This essay explores the potential for reconciling growth with environmental responsibility through the adoption of green energy sources based on geographical circumstances, promotion of public transport, integration of sustainable development practices, and fostering international cooperation, particularly in less developed nations.
Sustaining environmental responsibility amid global growth hinges on embracing renewable energy sources tailored to each country’s geographic context. Renewable energy source refers to something that can constantly refill itself without depleting resources. Historically reliant on finite fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution, humanity now confronts the urgent need to transition towards renewable alternatives.
The burning of fossil fuels annually emits a staggering 36.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, with urbanization exacerbating the rate. However, Norway exemplifies the feasibility of balancing social and economic growth with environmental stewardship. Renowned for its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 and boasting one of the world’s smallest carbon footprints, Norway derives approximately 96% of all electricity from renewable hydropower, which is affordable and easily accessible to the community.
While concerns regarding methane emissions from hydropower persist, the research from Norwegian Institute for Sustainability Research (NORSUS) contends that Norway’s strategic placement of plants at high altitudes minimizes the methane emissions and the total carbon footprint of the hydropower. Leveraging its rainy climate as well as topographical advantages, Norway underscores the importance of aligning sustainable energy initiatives with geographical traits to mitigate environmental harm while increasing energy efficiency and growth.
Another pivotal strategy in fostering sustainable urban development involves promotion of public transportation through compact-development. Urban sprawl, characterized by low-density outward expansion into rural areas, often exacerbates the carbon emissions and pollution by promoting car dependency and diminishing reliance on sustainable modes of transport like walking and cycling.
According to the United Nations, shifting from cars to public transport could reduce up to 2.2 tons of carbon emissions annually per person. Therefore, sustainable urbanism with promotion of compact-development can support public transport use and reduce the green gas emissions caused from private vehicles. The European Union, grappling with a substantial portion of carbon emissions from road transport, emphasizes the pivotal role of public transport in curbing emissions. Notably, Amsterdam stands as a beacon of compact, sustainable urban planning.
Constrained by limited land area, Amsterdam devised an intricate transportation system comprising trains that connect to all countryside and Europe, trams throughout the city that have cheap prices, and bicycles that allow travel through tiny streets while enjoying the urban landscape in an eco-friendly way. This urban planning allowed Amsterdam to earn recognition as Europe’s most sustainable city in 2021. This exemplifies how compact urban design can synergize with efficient transportation systems to foster sustainable growth while minimizing environmental degradation.
Furthermore, integrating sustainable development into community wealth initiatives through eco-friendly businesses bolsters economic prosperity while championing environmental stewardship. These initiatives, aimed at promoting local ownership and investment in community assets, increasingly prioritize sustainability and eco-conscious entrepreneurship.
Portland, Oregon, epitomizes this paradigm shift, spearheading community wealth initiatives that incentivize green businesses, including specialty grocery stores that sell package-free products and rebuilding centers that use recycled materials for home repairs, through financial incentives, technical assistance, and more networking opportunities. These eco-friendly businesses. This initiative not only generates green jobs and economic resilience but also fosters a culture of sustainability within communities, amplifying environmental responsibility alongside economic growth.
However, achieving this delicate balance remains a formidable challenge, particularly for less economically developed nations (LEDCs) grappling with multifaceted obstacles to sustainable development. Hindered by poverty, political instability, rapid population growth, and economic constraints, LEDCs often prioritize economic growth over environmental concerns. Yet history underscores the perils of neglecting environmental preservation in pursuit of economic development, as witnessed in the degradation ofresources and productivity and industrial decline in regions like Russia and Eastern Europe.
International cooperation thus assumes paramount importance in supporting LEDCs’ transition toward environmentally sustainable growth. Collaborative endeavors spearheaded by organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU) offer a roadmap for promoting sustainable development in LEDCs through targeted interventions and climate finance initiatives. In previous efforts, the EU published the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) policy that aimed to implement different sustainable development goals targeting the economic, environmental, and social factors.
This trade policy was successful in promoting sustainable development in LEDCs through providing them with incentives. Moreover, the EU is known to be the biggest contributor of climate finance through supporting different climate adaptation projects, specifically for the developing nations, providing 14.5 billion Euros in 2014.
In conclusion, the dichotomy between growth and environmental responsibility is not insurmountable. By embracing renewable and sustainable energy, fostering sustainable urban planning with public transportation, incorporating eco-friendly entrepreneurship, and fostering international cooperation for developing countries, nations can inch closer to a harmonious synthesis of social, economic, and environmental imperatives. Only through concerted efforts can humanity navigate the intricate nexus between progress and planetary preservation, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
By: Yoon Hur
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