To exist or to live?

More and more people are asking this question, so they are
taking a more conscious approach to their lives. More and more people realise that
to change their world, their country, their city, you have to do something, not just
think about it.
Problem is that every year the urban population is growing. The World Bank
estimates that by 2050, 70 out of 100 people will live in megacities. That means
inefficient energy use, air pollution, and congestion will increase.
In the search for a holistic solution, more and more cities are favouring the concept
of sustainability, trying to find a balance between economic development and
ecology for the well-being of future generations. Paris, for example, advocates a
reduction in carbon dioxide emissions to zero. From 2024, entry to the French
capital will be restricted for diesel cars. In addition, the authorities have introduced
green regulations requiring developers to put green spaces or solar panels on the
roofs of buildings.
Apart from this, rapid population growth is causing urban areas to expand and if
the process is chaotic, it leads to uneven traffic loads, a disproportionate mix of
residential and non-residential properties, and some other problems.
An approach to urban planning that meets the principles of sustainable
development is compact urban development or the principle of New Urbanism.
The Compact City principle correlates organically with the conditions brought
about by COVID-19 - self-isolation. Thus, the Barcelona authorities have started to
implement a human-centered concept in urban planning, which consists in
redirecting traffic flows to the outskirts and leaving the centre on foot.
Meanwhile, the issue of waste sorting also remains unsolved. Unfortunately, there
is no single official organisation in our country to deal with this process. It is often
difficult to find a rubbish bin to throw away a wrapper, let alone a sorting facility.
We need to take the example of South Korea. There are special waste bags in every
region, and throwing in other bags, improper sorting, or not sorting is a criminal
offence there. Moreover, Koreans wash all rubbish before throwing it away.
Sorting points, including clothes bins, are everywhere.
In summary, the key challenge must be the automation of convenient city planning,
waste sorting, and a system of fines for improperly disposed household and
technical waste. Only in this way can we ensure a healthy and happy future for us
and our children.