Creating a Greener Future

Creating a Greener Future

A green city is one that strives to meet the long-term goals of sustainability. This requires a multifaceted approach.

For example, a sustainable city should promote public transportation to reduce car traffic and harmful emissions. And it should also make sure its streets are shaded and filled with trees to lower ambient temperatures, mitigate air pollution, and promote healthier living.

1. Recycle

The first step in creating a greener future is to recycle more. This simple act can greatly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, and it's easy enough for everyone to do. Whether it's by setting out recycling bins in every room of the house or taking a few extra steps when shopping (think buying recycled paper, for example), the average person can help make a big difference.

In addition to reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, recycling also creates jobs and helps the economy. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, recycling 10,000 tons of materials can create as many as 36 jobs compared to six jobs when those same materials are put into landfills. In the spirit of this, a number of organizations have sprung up to help individuals and communities achieve their green goals. GreenCities Events, for instance, hosts conferences around the country where local experts and policymakers share ideas for greening their city. International Sustainable Solutions also takes urban planners, developers and elected officials on tours of the world's greenest cities to learn from their examples.

Besides recycling, another way to cut down on waste is to simply buy fewer things. Instead of a brand-new pair of jeans, for example, choose to donate your old ones to a charity shop or purchase a pair of Girlfriend Collective's 100 percent closed-loop sandal-slides made from recycled material that can be recycled once again into new shoes.

Urban areas play a critical role in achieving global sustainability, as they produce a large amount of waste and emissions, consume a large amount of natural resources, and have a multidimensional impact on the earth's socio-ecological system. This is why urban sustainability has emerged as an important target for a greener future. Green City Times

2. Reduce Waste

The most important step to a greener future is to reduce waste. This can be done by avoiding products that generate a lot of waste, such as those made of plastic, or by recycling items that do have to go to the landfill. Another way to reduce waste is by minimizing the amount of trash you produce on a daily basis. This can be done by using reusable bags and containers when shopping, passing on straws at restaurants, or bringing your own mug to coffee shops.

Waste reduction also includes using less of the materials and products you need to get the job done, known as source reduction. This is the most effective form of waste management because it prevents waste from being created in the first place and conserves natural resources. Source reduction encompasses all steps in the life cycle of a product, including extraction of raw materials, transportation, manufacturing and use, and disposal.

In addition, it is essential to create a culture of reuse in your workplace and at home. This can be done by donating or selling items you no longer need, buying secondhand items, and taking advantage of repair clinics to extend the life of your electronics, clothing, and appliances. It is also possible to reduce your household waste by using reusable containers when food shopping and packing lunches, using mason jars as water and drink containers, or fastening an old bedsheet to make a reusable grocery bag.

Businesses can also promote a culture of reuse by attaching clear, measurable environmental sustainability conditions to all COVID-19 recovery spending. These 'green strings' could vary by industry and include conditions on emissions targets consistent with net zero, air and water quality improvements, biodiversity targets, or other environmental outcomes.

3. Move to Renewable Energy

In the United States, green cities are leading the way to a renewable energy future. Portland, Oregon, is one of the first American cities to meet Kyoto emissions reduction goals and has inspired 590 other cities to do so. Austin, Texas, is a leader in the manufacture of solar equipment and has worked hard to reduce plastic usage. New York City is a leader in green building, public transit and alternative energy and has made strides to reduce waste.

As the global population grows, the need for sustainable solutions becomes more pressing. But the good news is that we can still make significant progress towards a better future by adopting greener habits. This includes recycling, using less energy in buildings and driving, and switching to green power.

Switching to renewables is not only a great way to help save the planet, it also benefits local economies and job creation. It also cuts costs and creates opportunities for the most vulnerable people to improve their quality of life.

However, the transition to a renewable energy economy will not be easy and will require cooperation and accountability. International financial systems must align their lending portfolios to support the transition, and governments must commit to a renewable energy pathway with concrete targets.

Cities are on the front lines of the climate crisis, but they can be hot spots for innovation. The WWF’s One Planet City Challenge has helped hundreds of cities show leadership and accountability by reporting their climate plans and receiving expert guidance and tools to implement them.

4. Improve Public Transportation

With cars responsible for 75% of carbon dioxide emissions, green cities need to tackle transportation head-on. Cost-efficient public transit takes cars off the road, reducing pollution and congestion. In addition, it can provide better access to jobs, services and amenities than driving alone.

Greener buses, trains and subways also use less energy than their fossil fuel counterparts, reducing emissions and noise pollution. They can run on clean, renewable electricity or hydrogen fuel cells powered by renewable biomass (such as garbage, wood chips or animal waste) that is converted to power via a natural process without emitting any greenhouse gases.

New technology can help improve public transportation, such as a hyperloop that could cut commute times and provide more comfortable rides. Other innovations include improved transit service speed and frequency, convenience and comfort, wayfinding and information tools, and lower fares and discounts.

Cities around the world are working hard to become greener and more sustainable. Some are making great progress in reducing emissions, such as the city of Cleveland which is using energy-efficient lighting and appliances to cut its emissions by 32%, or the city of Fayetteville which is running all municipal buildings on renewable energy. Others are reforesting and preserving natural areas, such as the Guatemala City's Jungla Urbana ecological park which showcases native plants.

Others are focusing on water sustainability, such as the city of Cape Town which is fighting to avoid running out of water by fixing leaking pipes and limiting consumption and investing in desalination plants. Still others are addressing climate change, such as the city of Stockholm which is aiming to eliminate fossil fuels by 2040 or sooner. This includes using solar panels on city-owned rooftops, converting to electric vehicles and building more charging stations, or implementing energy efficiency improvements.

5. Plant Trees

When properly planted, trees can provide many environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, a new tree is an investment, and how well it grows depends on a number of factors, including its location and the care it receives. The most important factor is selecting the right species for the site. The next is planting it at the proper depth and ensuring that it is watered regularly.

Green innovations are making a big difference in the building sector, says Moran, who sees green construction as an emerging job opportunity in the COVID-19 recovery. He points to living walls covered in plants that clean the air inside buildings, which are now appearing in more buildings around the world — Central Park has one, as does Google’s new headquarters.

The concept of a green city is being widely promoted by urban planners and others to promote sustainable development and ecological integrity in urban areas, where people produce high levels of waste and emissions and perform as the prime movers of the global economy. The idea is that urban areas must be made more sustainable to protect the socio-ecological systems that sustain life on Earth.

This requires a holistic approach that includes green infrastructure, nature-based solutions approaches, and urban planning. Green cities need to incorporate biodiversity into their design, consider the impact of climate change on ecosystem services and urbanization patterns, and include social and economic equity in their goals and policies.

As the world prepares for a post-COVID-19 economy, countries should consider adding clear, measurable environmental sustainability conditions to all COVID-19 recovery spending. These could vary by industry, but examples might be conditional interest rates for loans linked to emissions reductions consistent with net zero, air and water quality improvements, or biodiversity targets.