Pursuing knowledge and practices that lead to the environment and eco-friendly lifestyle is what we call ‘going green’. In a world that faces hazards of climate change, this phenomenon promises to bring about an improvement in the ecology for current and future generations. Joan Fitzgerald, an urban planner and a professor at Northeastern University, in her book “Emerald Cities: Urban Sustainability and Economic Development,” offers directions that need to be undertaken for a post-fossil fuel economy.
According to Fitzgerald, reducing oil consumption and the emission of greenhouse gases is one of the most important issues that need to be addressed. Urging the population to use public transport will help in solving this issue. Green technologies don’t produce fossil fuel waste by-products and are thus safer for the environment. They are also proven to benefit the economy, as there is a need for a labour force for the construction of these technologies. Countries have taken initiatives in building green roofs, thin-film solar panels, and green buildings. There are also firms of building suppliers who are transforming themselves into green building suppliers.
The national and state policies need to implement strict actions to encourage industries to minimising the use of natural resources to increase their production. Fitzgerald suggests subsidising such industries that are responsible for emitting greenhouse gases. With the industrial sector, a change in the transportation sector is also needed. Promoting the use of public transportation and supporting it with finance instead of spending funds on the construction of highways is one of the many methods that the state can implement.
By imbibing such small actions, we as humans can take an initiative to bring a bigger change in improving the polluted climate that we live in. It helps us to inculcate within us the value of eco-friendliness and makes us live a better and greener life.
Akshara Palshetkar