ROLE OF URBAN GREEN SPACES TO MEET SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

To end poverty, secure prosperity, and protect the environment while combating climate change and striving to preserve our oceans and forests, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set in 2015 with the objective of achieving them by 2030 across both developing and developed countries.

 

Urban green space is a very successful sustainable technology that supports the most crucial SDGs, such as human health and wellness, life on land, tackling climate change, and creating sustainable cities and communities.

Historically, greenspace has been used as two words, green and space, where the adjective green describes the space. For example, in a paper concerning trees mitigating air pollution, green space is defined as “land covered with some form of vegetation” (Warren, 1973).

People are moving from rural to urban locations around the world in quest of better employment prospects, resources, and a more modernized lifestyle. Between 2000 and 2050, this stark demographic change in favor of urbanization is expected to rise from 46.6 to 69.6%. Urban population growth has negative consequences on the environment, accidents, the effects of heat islands, and climate change. This has brought to light the need for multi-sectoral action to promote health in urban populations, which has given rise to the "Healthy Cities" movement, as it was first understood by Roman.

Urban green spaces are multifunctional spaces – consisting of parks or other green areas including plant life, water features or a land covered with grasses, trees and forests in order to promotes biodiversity and recreational opportunity for people.

Most urban open spaces are green spaces, but occasionally include other kinds of open area.

Contribution of Green spaces towards Sustainable Development Goals

Physical Health, Mental Health and well being

One of the most opportunity which is offered by green spaces maintenance of physical health of people. Modification of the built environment to provide green space offers opportunities for beneficial ‘green exercise’ such as walking. A study reported a positive association between lower stroke mortality and higher levels of greenness in the environment.

The provision and access to green space not only helps to reduce stress level but also provides recreation and relaxation, improve air quality and allow contact with nature, which has restorative effects.

Hence it is a strong evidence that green space highly encourages well-being of human and plays a vital role towards SDGs.

Climate change mitigation

Although it is difficult to reverse the effects of many anthropogenic activities on the environment, green spaces play a bigger part by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen into the air. For instance, forests have a higher capacity to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it as soil organic matter for a longer period of time, which lessens global warming and improves soil characteristics to prevent soil erosion. They also regulate rainfall and keep the air at a specific level of humidity, which all contribute to a more favourable urban climate for both people and the environment. Furthermore, by providing habitats for a variety of urban wildlife and conserving a variety of urban ecosystems, urban green spaces maintain the region's natural and cultural history, which is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and combating climate change.

Use of green spaces to manage storm water-Flood risk alleviation

Urban cities have made stormwater management a priority since the beginning of time in order to reduce flood hazards. Several urban regions in the United States are interested in utilizing green infrastructure as a supplement to insufficient grey infrastructure since grey infrastructure is outdated technology that frequently exceeds its designed capacity.

The more permeable (or absorbent) the surface, the less runoff there will be. Forests and green land are porous spaces that radially soak up the rainwater they receive, which is gradually released into groundwater, nearby water bodies, or evaporated into the atmosphere. On the other hand, streets, parking lots, and rooftops are impervious (nonabsorbent) surfaces that do not absorb stormwater and increase runoff. Green infrastructure and other green space reduce runoff and promote infiltration of storm water by using the natural hydrologic properties of soil and vegetation.

More Employment opportunities and property values

Economic advantages from green places include higher property values and employment prospects. In addition to creating new jobs, the presence of these areas can boost an area's economic value. A study by the University of Exeter found that employees who work in a green office are 15% more productive than those who work in a bare office. Green spaces, water bodies, and beautiful landscape architecture increase aesthetics and real estate values, for example through hedonic pricing. In the majority of developed nations, green urban areas offer beautiful settings for leisure activities, for which tourism and welfare are the primary motivators of landscape management.

Promoting Biodiversity

Biodiversity, which promotes flora and fauna, is not only what makes it unique and beautiful; it is also the reason why life has persisted on this planet for so long. Loss of biodiversity (variety of life) is currently the most important issue and calls for enhanced attention. Local wildlife can find refuge, food, and a place to nest when native plants are planted in green spaces. The majority of the animals, butterflies, and birds are dependent on native flora for food. By attracting butterflies, birds, and other local species with water bodies, we can increase the biodiversity of our planet and its beautiful attractiveness. Healthy ecosystems can be produced in clean, stable environments with lots of native biodiversity.

Hence it can be concluded that promoting green spaces projects in urban areas can play a key role to attain sustainable development goals by maintaining human health, purifying air, managing stormwater, promoting biodiversity, increasing employment opportunities and real estate value, providing source of recreational activities, growing more foods and vegetables and reducing diseases among humans.