Introduction to Sustainable DevelopmentTarget Locality Free Essay Example

Introduction to Sustainable Development

Target Locality: ?urrieq, Malta.

The latest Sustainable Development Goals, which target the year 2030, were adopted in 2015 by all States which are members of the United Nations. In this assignment, goal number 11 (“Sustainable Cities and Communities”), particularly the target of “providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities”, will be considered.

When considering gardens and playgrounds as a means of public spaces, it can be said that the locality of ?urrieq is already assessing such a target.

This is because it currently holds four playgrounds, and this in only 10.5km2. Although in the past this was a considered as a rural locality, it is becoming ever more evident that urbanisation is taking over here as well. ?urrieq is mainly composed of various hamlets, namely in-Nigret having the famous ?nien il-?ibjun which is approximately 9,100m2, tal-Bebbux having the hence ?nien tal-Bebbux which is 1,550m2, ix-Xarolla having ?nien il-Bennej which is approximately 972m2, Bubaqra and the area around the main square having an approximately 822m2 playground in Stefano Zerafa Street.

However, one should still not overlook the fact that this locality has a very large rural outskirt which contributes to Sustainable Development Goal number 15 which considers life on land: “Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss“.

Unfortunately, specifically in the hamlet of Bubaqra, no public space is found. It is due to this reason that I decided to identify an area which is ideal to have the purpose of providing a public space found in this hamlet.

This area is approximately 1,025m2 and it is a field used only rarely in a year located in front of the historic Bubaqra Tower. It is quite central related to the whole hamlet especially related to the numerous surrounding housing estates making it easily accessible by numerous residents.

?urrieq in itself is a quiet village and this is even more in this allocated area as it is not greatly frequented by cars due to the fact that it is not an artery street. Apart from that, the street close by is narrow but cars can still pass in both ways, therefore, drivers drive slowly in order to avoid accidents, making the planned public space quite safe.

As previously stated, this area is a rarely used field and, therefore, it can be said to already have a water system, both for irrigation as well as for infiltration. The soil there can help to have trees in this public space or even an area where people can plant trees themselves and take care of this specific tree themselves as an activity which the local council may consider. Trees or other plants and vegetation help to reduce the rate at which the climate is changing due to their photosynthesis process in which they produce oxygen in exchange for unwanted atmospheric gases. The soil, as well as other manufactured permeable surfaces also help to absorb water especially during rainfall which in turn prevent road floodings apart from the obvious preservation of natural water in underground water reservoirs, this apart from the fact that such vegetation helps to maintain biodiversity especially as they provide a place where migrating birds can eat and rest.

The area is very prone for sunlight as it is only touching one building which may steal some on a particular time of the day. Due to this advantage, it is an excellent place in which solar renewable energy devices can be installed. Such devices include solar panels connected to the public lamp post, as well as those installed on top of the restroom facility so as not to disturb any pathways. The latter solar panels can be used to distribute electricity to the lamp posts of the surrounding streets, therefore expanding the circle of sustainability beyond the public space itself. An interesting innovation would be the installation of solar trees. A solar tree is a generator of energy which looks like a tree, however, the leaves are solar panels instead. This has quite a few advantages namely as it shows that solar energy is not only practical, but also beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Another advantage would be the offering of shade, just like any other normal tree. Small wind turbines may also be installed in order to take full advantage of what this space is prone to.

It is quite clear that the allocated space has a large frontal area from which people can enter. The fact that it is at street level is another advantage especially for people who make use of a wheelchair, parents who are taking their very young children out in their pushchairs, and also elderly who find it difficult to go up any stairs. A bicycle parking area can be easily installed thus making it also easily accessible by those who choose to use different transport. This helps in reaching Sustainable Development Goal number 7 which is to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy” due to the reduction of polluting energy by cars. This also helps in achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 6 which is concerned with “clean water and sanitation” a part of a target of which is to “improve water quality by reducing pollution … and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater”. However, it should be enforced that no bicycles are to be used within the public area itself as it would not be as safe for the others.

Also relating to accessibility, it should be pointed out that this area is only approximately 5 minutes away on foot from a bus stop thus continuing to make it universally accessible. The historic tower next to which this space is located may also help to attract tourists in which case this public space may be used to rest. Foreigners seeing such a space with its great innovations, helps to give a good name to the Maltese Islands in the sustainable development aspect.

In terms of waste management, various recycling and sorting bins are to be distributed around the whole area. The number of organic bins should be larger than that of other recycling bins as according to the recommended ratio of 5:1. Such recycling bins should also be distributed along the nearby roads so that people passing by do not have to enter the public space but are still encouraged to sort out their waste. This helps in achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 12 which is to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns”. This also helps in achieving the other part of the target of Sustainable Goal number 6 previously mentioned which enforces in “eliminating dumping … and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally“. The use of sensors for the water taps in the restrooms can also be considered a sustainable management mechanism in order to avoid wasting water.

Figure 7 on the next page shows a planned distribution of different recreational areas in this space. It should be noted that other seating benches are distributed all around the space apart from the identified general picnic/seating area and the benches attached to the solar trees for shade. Other vegetation is also distributed apart from the area in which people can plant and take care of their own tree or other type of plant.

Although public spaces can be taken for granted and can be seen as something which is not as important as education, health care, public safety, and transportation, it is quite astonishing how, in reality, they have so much power. One instance is the reduction of the heat island effect which is the cause of the engines which make the place hotter than the countryside which surrounds it, especially in the summer months. This becoming even more the case as urbanisation increases as it in turn reduces the area of the countryside itself. The less the existence of such public spaces also affects our dependency on them for everyday essentials such as food, air, and water, amongst other material products. Due to such factors, it can be said that public spaces are capable of increasing as well as reducing a place’s well-being and wealth. However, such spaces are also places where social groups are built and expanded as a person meets with another and communicates and shares information and together come up with new ideas. An individual can also go alone just to refresh the mind and take a break from the ongoing fast and monotonous life. A public space can also give the particular place an identity, a positive one if maintained correctly and, even more so, in sustainable manner.

Such importance should help one to notice that we should actually focus more on creating these areas instead of demolishing them for the benefit of the contractor as opposed to the profit of the whole community.