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Urban Sprawl
Urban Sprawl
If you live in a city you’ve probably heard the phrase urban sprawl. It’s a buzzword used by city
planners and environmentalists alike, but what does urban sprawl really mean?
Let’s take a closer look at the term, it’s environmental effect and what city planners can do to
reduce the impact of our sprawling cities.
A lack of urban planning can also create damaging sprawl — just look at Houston, Texas. The
lack of urban planning and uncontrolled sprawl created a perfect storm that contributed to the
devastating flooding after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in 2017.
Whatever the reason, urban sprawl is happening, and it is damaging the environment.
Damaging Effects
What effect does urban sprawl have on the environment? A few include:
Increased Levels of Air and Water Pollution: More people mean more pollution and even the
eco-friendliest suburb produces some pollution.
Larger Commute-Related Carbon Footprint: Just because people are moving to the suburbs
doesn’t mean they’re also investing in electric cars. They’re driving further and further to work,
which increases their carbon footprint.
Vacant Buildings: When a suburb runs out of money, people often abandon it. This leaves empty
houses and businesses dotting the landscape, which deteriorate and release chemicals into the
surrounding land.
Animal Habitat Destruction: When you cut down a forest to perpetuate urban sprawl, you are
destroying the habitats of potentially hundreds of plants, animals and insects. Those with large
populations might move, but those with small populations or specific environmental needs might
end up going extinct.
Fewer Farms: We don’t have a food shortage — yet — but when you take over farmland to build
suburban housing, you lessen the land’s agriculture capacity and make it harder for farmers to
meet their yearly harvest quotas.
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