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gretamclaughlin · 3 years

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Reform and Restructuring for a Greener Future

Overpopulation and overconsumption are becoming direr environmental problems as time goes on, and steps must be taken immediately to curb these interrelated issues. Chris Jordan’s photography displays the sheer level of human consumption, and the problem is exacerbated by rapidly growing populations. Similar to the impossible hamster, human economies cannot keep growing forever, and at some point in the future, we will destroy ourselves. Earth’s resources are finite and need to be treated as such. Today, the human ecological footprint is expanding as we reach late-stage capitalism. There is widespread environmental degradation and changes in nature, communities, and economies, and people are calling for new systems to evaluate said issues.

Developing nations’ populations are increasing at astounding rates, and one must understand and handle poverty to deal with this issue and improve the environment for people across the world. Studies have shown that even an elementary level of education causes women to reproduce less, and they have greater opportunities to support themselves outside of a husband. Unfortunately, in many developing nations, women cannot obtain an education. Therefore, improving schooling is integral in population control. Furthermore, birth control and family planning resources need to become more accessible, so fewer women and couples are forced to have children and fewer unsafe abortions occur. This would also facilitate improvements in other areas of health like controlling the spread of HIV. If these nations can improve their social safety nets and implement greater public benefits like pensions, birth rates would also decrease because women would not have to rely on children to support them. Certainly, these methods would improve the well-being of people across the world, and it would also benefit the environment and the budgets of nations, as reducing poverty saves money. It is intriguing to view environmental issues in a wider social context, and I appreciate how the textbook mentions how certain issues affect several spheres, such as economics and healthcare.

Some advocate for the implementation of a steady-state economy to reduce overconsumption and exploitation, which would create permanent economic restrictions, like limits on income and wealth. However, this theory has its faults, and regulations may govern fertility rates and more. Between 1979 and 2015, China implemented the one-child policy and distributed benefits, many of which were basic human necessities, to those who followed the policy (BBC, n.d.). Although China’s birth rate fell significantly during this time, many view it as inhumane. Female babies were sometimes killed due to gender, and some women were forced to have abortions or be sterilized. In the U.S., instances of forced hysterectomies of migrants at ICE detention centers are examples of flagrant human rights violations and attempts to institute eugenics (Project South 2020). Past population and economic control attempts resemble Huxleyan societies in which only “the best” are allowed to survive. I view these tactics as violations of human rights, and they take policies that could be beneficial (like family planning) to the extreme. The implications of such approaches are heinous and dystopian.

Some favor degrowth to reduce overconsumption. The theory advocates for shifting societies’ values to ones that are no longer based on material wealth. In such degrowth societies, sustainable agriculture is emphasized, and having necessities is deemed as more important than amassing great wealth. In a plenitude economy, like the video shows, people view the earth in a less extractive manner and do not strive for endless growth; there are less wealth inequalities and environmental issues as a result. “The Good Life” parable depicts a man who earns enough money to support his family and is quite happy with his decisions, despite not being wealthy. In a previous post, I spoke about Aude, France and how there has been a revitalization of rural communities; these small villages are generally sustainable. People lead full lives, and they are not suffocated by many of the trials of modern life. I have always thought about living like this, and residing in New York City’s metropolitan area for my entire life has definitely affected me negatively. I am harmed by the constant pressure and competition, and I spend most of my days inside studying, so I can have a good career, so I can make money. This does not seem like a well-lived life, but there are few other options. I have always dreamed of moving to a sustainable commune because, in my mind, humans are not meant to live the way that they do now. We need to take down capitalist systems as a whole if we want to return to a more community-driven lifestyle.

Worldwide, urbanization is expanding, and people are leaving rural areas for cities and suburbs. Unfortunately, these regions are largely unsustainable, and widespread pollution and environmental degradation occur both within and outside the city to support it. Cities need to become more sustainable for both environmental and health reasons. Governments should implement mixed-use neighborhoods to reduce reliance on cars and foster community. In New Jersey, the Transit Village Initiative aims to develop areas around public transportation (State of New Jersey 2019). There are 33 transit villages today, and it has caused more people to use public transit and revitalized downtowns. Unfortunately, my town did not opt into the initiative, and local businesses are suffering, and few people use public transportation. In Singapore, the Land Transport Master Plan 2040 has created numerous 20-minute neighborhoods (Government of Singapore 2020). People can shop, eat, and visit the doctor within minutes, and cycling paths and high-speed transportation connect the city for longer commutes. In New York City, PlaNYC set out goals to improve mass transit. Transition Towns also provide an alternative to environmentally degrading living on a local level, and if the network is expanded more, the towns can have a significant impact. New communities need to avoid urban sprawl, and cluster developments keep natural features and improve human health.

At the Guggenheim Museum, a recent exhibition highlighted human communities, urbanization, and the revitalization of rural areas (Office for Metropolitan Architecture 2020). Spearheaded by Rem Koolhas, one section of the exhibit featured modern Chinese villages. People live in apartment complexes in rural areas, and they have quick access to food, schools, and more. Residents work on small, personal farms with relatively short workdays, and they enjoy a sense of community. Outside of cities, these people connect more with nature, satisfying biophilia.

Action needs to be taken immediately, but many governments are lackadaisical when it comes to pursuing green initiatives, especially when they would alter economic systems. The “American Dream” still captures many people, even ones being hurt the most by the capitalist system. Therefore, even though a top-down approach may work better, a bottom-up approach is more feasible, especially in countries like the U.S. Grassroots organizations and community groups should begin with local initiatives to both educate and alter people’s perceptions and shift the way communities are set up.

Within cities, smaller, more sustainable communities can be created. Eco-villages require residents to live in an ecologically friendly fashion, and they give people the tools to be greener in a system that makes it difficult. Although this is a small step, these eco-villages can have enormous impacts on those surrounding the communities as well, and they can inspire others to compost, reuse, and more. Establishing farmer’s markets within neighborhoods further promotes green living, and if people source more food locally, they do not pollute the earth through transportation. If organizations and the government can work with vendors to take food stamps at markets, more people will have access to healthier food, and less damage will be done to the environment. Programs to share goods, rather than buying them, are also important in creating sustainable communities. Book-sharing, toy-sharing, and tool-sharing are all examples of how goods can be lent to others, instead of people buying new ones for use for a short period of time. Certainly, community-based actions enable people to live in a greener manner, and they promote a sense of community that many are lacking in the modern world. If these groups can pressure local governments to revisit zoning laws to create more mixed-use neighborhoods, more widespread change can occur. People will rely less on cars and environmentally degrading transportation in general, thus living more sustainably.

Grassroots initiatives can offer greater access to birth control and provide sex education to fill in the government’s gaps. Providing contraceptive pills, condoms, and more and informing people on how to use them can have extensive effects. Offering these services in underserved communities will cause more people to make informed decisions about their sex lives and reproduction, reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies. In turn, this will decrease population growth and poverty and allow for women to gain greater autonomy in their lives. Certainly, a significant number of social issues are connected, and by addressing one of them, we can positively affect so many others. Of course, government intervention to help these organizations in their efforts would be ideal. Government funding to groups such as Planned Parenthood allows more people to gain access to vital resources. It also helps the government later on by reducing the number of people living in poverty who would require even more federal funding. However, the government has not shown to be the most effective when it comes to reproductive health, and often the burden falls on the people themselves. Perhaps presenting the issue through the lens of overall cost reduction would change how the government views the problem.

Additionally, we should pressure the government into implementing widespread policies on urban planning and infrastructure. This is likely the only way for the entire country to become more sustainable both now and in the future. For example, the government can allocate more funds to public transportation nationwide and in cities and states through mandates. Mandates would require areas to increase services and improve failing infrastructure, such as the constantly delayed New York City subway system. Amtrak, a current federal transportation service, is seen as a failure by many people, and the majority of the country remains disconnected. During the pandemic, service has been interrupted even more. If the government improves Amtrak and perhaps adds a nationwide high-speed rail service, fewer people will rely on cars and planes to travel domestically. Pollution will reduce, and the country will become more connected, which has significant benefits from an economic and community standpoint. Current Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg supports creating a high-speed rail system; however, it is an initiative that is often overlooked by many others in government for its price. Again, the burden might fall on grassroots groups to display to the government how upfront costs will pay off due to reduced environmental costs.

In an ideal world, we would dismantle capitalism and replace it with a system that is kinder to more people and the environment in general. It would effectively reduce wealth disparities and increase the standard of living of those currently living in poverty. For many reasons, I believe that a complete restructuring of many economic systems, including the U.S.’s, is the only way to reduce the threat of environmental degradation. We need to shift away from the greed and exploitation of capitalism and create opportunities for everyone. In a previous blog post, I spoke highly of sustainable business models. Although these are important first steps to take and can reduce environmental degradation by industries, they are not viable long-term. Sustainable businesses still seek to exploit in many ways, and many greenwash their initiatives. It is time we make an institutional change. Pressuring and lobbying the government and electing promising officials is one way to go about gradual shifts in the economic system, and these officials can implement policies that heavily regulate businesses and redistribute wealth. Widespread protest may be an important factor given that major corporations bankroll so many politicians. In this restructuring, we should not lean on steady-state eugenics initiatives to “improve” society, and we must focus on creating a fairer world for everyone.

The environment is degrading rapidly, and steps must be taken to address urbanization and extreme population growth. We are consuming the earth’s resources at a completely unsustainable rate, and we are residing in communities that do not support an environmentally friendly way of life. Institutional issues need to be rectified to save us from the impending doom that is climate change. In the meantime, we should all recognize our impacts on the environment and attempt to curb any damage that we do. It is up to everyone to create a healthier world.

Word Count: 2088

Question: How have mixed-use communities affected economic growth?

Diagrams:

Singapore’s plan provides numerous benefits to people’s well-being.

Key elements of mixed-use neighborhoods

Proposed agro-housing in Wuhan, China combines agriculture and urban amenities in a mixed-use development.

Works Cited:

BBC. n.d. “Managing population change.” Accessed March 28, 2021. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3grsg8/revision/1.

Project South. 2020. “ Lack of Medical Care, Unsafe Work Practices, and Absence of Adequate Protection Against COVID-19 for Detained Immigrants and Employees Alike at the Irwin County Detention Center .” https://projectsouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/OIG-ICDC-Complaint-1.pdf.

State of New Jersey. 2019. “Transit Village Initiative Frequently Asked Questions.” https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/village/faq.shtm.

Government of Singapore. 2020. “Land Transport Master Plan 2040.” https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltagov/en/who_we_are/our_work/land_transport_master_plan_2040.html.

Office for Metropolitan Architecture. 2020. “Countryside: The Future.” https://oma.eu/projects/countryside-the-future.

#environment #environmentalism #urban planning #singapore #capitalism #population control

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