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10 Sustainability
but the installation of renewable energy sources would make cities greener and
put less strain on the environment. Wind turbines could be installed near cities to
provide a regular energy supply in close proximity to minimize energy consumption.
In hot countries, solar panels could be installed on every building, which would
massively boost environmental sustainability by exploiting an energy source that
would otherwise be completely wasted. Additionally, cities could also utilize biogas
by using the cities’ own sewage. This would tackle the issue of removing waste
while also providing a much greener energy source.
How can Africa embrace solar energy and ensure that it is sustainable?
While this is but a mere snapshot of the possibilities for creating more environmentally sustainable human settlements, it clearly highlights the broad spectrum
of solutions that can be implemented to make our cities greener. Clearly, given
the busy and complex nature of cities, it may appear that achieving environmental
sustainability in such an environment is difficult. However, even with the examples
provided, it is possible to be done in tandem with meeting the needs of the
inhabitants without the sacrifice of modern-day lifestyles. Indeed, not only will they
make our cities more sustainable, but many strategies will also contribute in meeting
the targets in other areas of environmental sustainability.
10.4.2.2 Emissions and Wastes
One aspect of environmental sustainability that we must address which is intrinsically linked with our need for “eco-cities” (among other areas) is the control
and maintenance of our emissions and waste management. Fossil fuels are formed
through natural processes, such as the decomposition of organisms. These fuels
typically contain high percentages of carbon—such as coal, petroleum, and natural
gas. Every year, over 21.3 billion tons of CO 2 is emitted into the atmosphere through
the burning of fossil fuels. This is rising every year and is over 60% above the level
of emissions recorded in 1990 (Hosseini and Kaneko 2012). These emissions are
coming from a huge variety of sources, although primarily from industry and the use
of fossil fuels, which account for around 91% of all human-induced CO 2 emissions,
with the other 9% arising from land use changes (Hosseini and Kaneko 2012). Of
the emitted CO 2 , the biggest contributor is coal with 41%, while 34% came from oil,
19% from gas, and 5.6% arising through cement production (Hosseini and Kaneko
2012).
While there have been a number of new protocols, targets, and implemented
legislations set to curb our emissions and bring them under control, our emissions
are still increasing. In 2014 our global fossil fuel emissions grew by 0.7%, and held
steady through 2015, before only seeing a small rise of 0.2% in 2016 (Le Quéré et al.
10 Sustainability
but the installation of renewable energy sources would make cities greener and
put less strain on the environment. Wind turbines could be installed near cities to
provide a regular energy supply in close proximity to minimize energy consumption.
In hot countries, solar panels could be installed on every building, which would
massively boost environmental sustainability by exploiting an energy source that
would otherwise be completely wasted. Additionally, cities could also utilize biogas
by using the cities’ own sewage. This would tackle the issue of removing waste
while also providing a much greener energy source.
How can Africa embrace solar energy and ensure that it is sustainable?
While this is but a mere snapshot of the possibilities for creating more environmentally sustainable human settlements, it clearly highlights the broad spectrum
of solutions that can be implemented to make our cities greener. Clearly, given
the busy and complex nature of cities, it may appear that achieving environmental
sustainability in such an environment is difficult. However, even with the examples
provided, it is possible to be done in tandem with meeting the needs of the
inhabitants without the sacrifice of modern-day lifestyles. Indeed, not only will they
make our cities more sustainable, but many strategies will also contribute in meeting
the targets in other areas of environmental sustainability.
10.4.2.2 Emissions and Wastes
One aspect of environmental sustainability that we must address which is intrinsically linked with our need for “eco-cities” (among other areas) is the control
and maintenance of our emissions and waste management. Fossil fuels are formed
through natural processes, such as the decomposition of organisms. These fuels
typically contain high percentages of carbon—such as coal, petroleum, and natural
gas. Every year, over 21.3 billion tons of CO 2 is emitted into the atmosphere through
the burning of fossil fuels. This is rising every year and is over 60% above the level
of emissions recorded in 1990 (Hosseini and Kaneko 2012). These emissions are
coming from a huge variety of sources, although primarily from industry and the use
of fossil fuels, which account for around 91% of all human-induced CO 2 emissions,
with the other 9% arising from land use changes (Hosseini and Kaneko 2012). Of
the emitted CO 2 , the biggest contributor is coal with 41%, while 34% came from oil,
19% from gas, and 5.6% arising through cement production (Hosseini and Kaneko
2012).
While there have been a number of new protocols, targets, and implemented
legislations set to curb our emissions and bring them under control, our emissions
are still increasing. In 2014 our global fossil fuel emissions grew by 0.7%, and held
steady through 2015, before only seeing a small rise of 0.2% in 2016 (Le Quéré et al.