Submitted Essay
Some argue that urban livability can be compromised due to widespread contamination and overpopulation, while the opposite view suggests that integration of new technological solutions can address the root causes in the long term. Both perspectives hold considerable merit and will be examined in this essay.
The proponents of the first view suggest that an increase in urban population automatically triggers the development of overstretched infrastructure including expansion of industrial activity in the form of enterprises and unmanageable congestion. This trend is evident in most world-famous metropolises such as New York, Moscow and Beijing, in which an alerting rate of manufacturing and private vehicle use stems from the tendency of the local village and town residents to gravitate towards urban centres. This leads to the urgent need of initiating multiple property development projects, triggers heavy traffic on the roads and exacerbates pollution as a result.
The opponents present a compelling argument that a multifaceted approach including sustainable urban planning and smart city initiatives can tackle the issue of unrestricted city growth. These initiatives have been shown to work in Asian megacities such as Singapore and Tokyo prioritizing greener policies involving renewable energy integration and advanced waste management systems. A good illustration of such initiatives are the ubiquitous use of solar batteries, wind turbines and construction of recycling plants eliminating the threat of urban deterioration and ensuring residents' well-being. Furthermore, the development of energy-efficient and emission-free autonomous vehicles gives a promising solution to the most pressing environmental and traffic management matters, which is likely to address the global concern with the next few decades.
To conclude, both these views warrant careful consideration. On balance, however, I believe that the world shall await a more positive scenario following urbanization, since implementing cutting-edge technological solutions seems feasible not only for developed countries but also developing states. Thus, in order to avoid a further decline in the quality of life, urban centres should follow examples mentioned in this essay, to address the issues with ingenuity and ensure livability.
The proponents of the first view suggest that an increase in urban population automatically triggers the development of overstretched infrastructure including expansion of industrial activity in the form of enterprises and unmanageable congestion. This trend is evident in most world-famous metropolises such as New York, Moscow and Beijing, in which an alerting rate of manufacturing and private vehicle use stems from the tendency of the local village and town residents to gravitate towards urban centres. This leads to the urgent need of initiating multiple property development projects, triggers heavy traffic on the roads and exacerbates pollution as a result.
The opponents present a compelling argument that a multifaceted approach including sustainable urban planning and smart city initiatives can tackle the issue of unrestricted city growth. These initiatives have been shown to work in Asian megacities such as Singapore and Tokyo prioritizing greener policies involving renewable energy integration and advanced waste management systems. A good illustration of such initiatives are the ubiquitous use of solar batteries, wind turbines and construction of recycling plants eliminating the threat of urban deterioration and ensuring residents' well-being. Furthermore, the development of energy-efficient and emission-free autonomous vehicles gives a promising solution to the most pressing environmental and traffic management matters, which is likely to address the global concern with the next few decades.
To conclude, both these views warrant careful consideration. On balance, however, I believe that the world shall await a more positive scenario following urbanization, since implementing cutting-edge technological solutions seems feasible not only for developed countries but also developing states. Thus, in order to avoid a further decline in the quality of life, urban centres should follow examples mentioned in this essay, to address the issues with ingenuity and ensure livability.