Post by account_disabled on Feb 20, 2024 5:14:37 GMT
Barcelona. Sustainable cities after COVID19: Why could they be the answer? The closures and restrictions introduced to control the spread of COVID-19 have caused major changes to urban life. Previously bustling urban centers remain empty, shunned in favor of suburban or rural areas where social distancing is easier and connections to the outdoors are plentiful. The rollout of vaccines offers hope for a partial restoration of normality in cities, but the impact of COVID-19 could last much longer, not to mention the other features it has brought with it. The damage of the lack of green spaces In particular, the pandemic has shown how harmful congestion, pollution and a lack of green space can be, including how these factors have contributed to the severity of suffering for city dwellers. We have the opportunity to improve life in the city. Barcelona offers an example of how city areas can be transformed to reduce pollution and increase access to green spaces.
The city pioneered the superblock concept, first introduced in 2016, as part of green urban planning. Superblocks are nine-block neighborhoods. Traffic is restricted to the main roads around the superblocks, leaving the Europe Cell Phone Number List inner streets for pedestrians and cyclists. Recently, new plans have been announced to expand green areas in the city's central district, Eixample. This is a major expansion of low-traffic areas, prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists to reduce pollution and provide green spaces. A plan in motion The new plan will cover 21 streets and have room for 21 new pedestrian plazas at intersections. At least 80% of each street must be shaded by trees in summer and 20% unpaved. A public competition in May 2021 will decide the final design. The purpose of the plan is to ensure that no resident is more than 650 feet from a green space. There are many benefits of creating urban green spaces like these. They include improving air quality and noise levels on car-free streets and reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels from road traffic. Exposure to high levels of NO₂ can cause a variety of respiratory problems.
Green areas. Sustainable cities after COVID19: Why could they be the answer? Green spaces have been shown to improve mental health, as well as reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes, significantly increasing vulnerability to COVID-19. This disease has made the case for green urban planning even more compelling. However, these plans may come at a cost. Barriers to green cities A particular negative impact of green spaces could be high demand for housing, leading to subsequent rises in property prices. This can lead to gentrification and displacement of local residents and businesses. Care must be taken to ensure that housing remains affordable and that urban green spaces do not become wealthy enclaves. The COVID-19 lockdowns highlighted the difference in living conditions faced by city residents. Green initiatives must work for all socioeconomic groups and must not exacerbate existing inequalities. Additionally, while city centers are the usual focus areas for green initiatives, suburbs and other outlying areas also need attention. The goal is to reduce carbon dependency as a whole, not to move it from one area to another or from one sector to another.