14 DAY TRIAL // The journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences recently saw the publication of a new study stating that, given current trends in terms of urban expansion, global biodiversity is to soon suffer major losses.
Thus, a team of specialists from the Yale, Texas A&M and Boston University predict that, should things continue to unfold in this manner, urban areas worldwide will experience an increase in the overall surface of as much as 463,000 square miles (1.2 million square kilometers).
This increase will translate in a total of $25-30 trillion (roughly €19-22.8 trillion) being invested both in the construction field, and in related industries.
As they explain, the deadline for this major urban infrastructure boost is the year 2030, so little time remains to take appropriate measures and make sure the natural habitats still standing in various parts of the world get the attention they deserve and are kept out of harm's way.
Commenting on the findings of this study, Karen Seto, presently working with the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, made a case of how, “Given the long life and near irreversibility of infrastructure investments, it will be critical for current urbanization-related policies to consider their lasting impacts.”
As reported on E! Science News, this predicted expansion for urban areas worldwide need be linked to more than just the fact that natural habitats and landscaped will most likely be destroyed in order to accommodate new facilities.
Thus, it is of utmost importance that due consideration is given to how these developments will impact on the natural resources we presently have at our disposal.
More precisely, these bigger cities which are soon to come our way will require both water and sanitation facilities, not to mention the fact that significant amounts of energy will be needed in order to keep them up and running.
“The world will experience an unprecedented era of urban expansion and city-building over the next few decades. The associated environmental and social challenges will be enormous, but so are the opportunities,” concludes Karen Seto.
Just for the record, Asia (China, India) and Africa are expected to take the lead when it comes to this ongoing process of urban expansion.