Greenspacing
Gardens By The Bay in Singapore is a model of what greenspacing of the future can become.
Over the course of history, humans have developed their surroundings to accommodate them. We have reached the point where we are replacing open grasslands and forests with concrete roads and skyscrapers. Half of the world population already lives in cities, and by 2050, two-thirds are expected to live in urban areas. Although we have made the earth more habitable for us, we have made it less livable for nature's trees, plants, animals, and other living creatures. Today, we will explore the consequences of urbanization, how to live in harmony with humans and nature, and how to utilize green spacing.
Urbanization has improved the efficiency of human life. For instance, basic amenities from food to electricity require less effort to acquire. You can wake up, walk a few blocks to get coffee, and then commute to your work. However, pushing everything closer and closer together has limited the space nature has to live in harmony with us. We've cut down on parks, grasslands, and forests to build more infrastructure. There are countless problems with this. Animals have less space to live, air pollution rises, and it becomes hotter as dark roads replace light grass.
The Impacts Of Urbanization
Greenspacing (GS), a term coined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), may help us tackle the consequences of urbanization. The concept is simple: by integrating nature into our lives, nature gives back to us. In addition to purifying our air and working as a natural cooling system, the addition of natural greenspace (GS) will improve our wellbeing. The EPA found, "GS benefits public health directly by providing a dynamic space for exercise, social interactions, and other behaviors that lower psychological stress and improve mood. Additional benefits of exposure to GS appear to include improved cognition, attention restoration, and improved immune function." GS is essential to our environment, animals, and wellbeing. So, what are the examples of GS? And how can you integrate it into your life?
It can be as small as your flowers or as large as a stadium. GS is green. Developers are creating the future of urban design with integrations across the tops of skyscrapers or floating gardens. Take the iconic cloud gate (bean) park in Chicago. Gardens and a concert venue replaced this industrial wasteland. Or Singapore's Gardens By The Bay, consisting of human-made "trees" wrapped in greenery. You can create GS in your backyard by creating rock gardens, flower pads, and even astroturf that acts like grass but uses no water.
Common Greenspaces Include
Parks
Playgrounds
School Yards
Plazas
Vacant Lots
Cemeteries
We can create a future where we overtake nature or live in harmony with it. By implementing GS across our cities, we can ensure a sustainable future. Light CO2 challenges you to take a simple step today. Get a few plants, flowers, or greenery and incorporate it into your home. Next, go a step further and plant a tree or a few hundred. Earth and your health will be thankful.
