The
Challenge of Urban Sustainability and Architectural Education in Nigeria
Introduction
This
paper discusses the challenge of urban sustainability as it relates to architectural
education in Nigeria .
Sustainability and sustainable development emerged as the prime goals of the City Summit, the United Nations Conference
at Instabul (Habitat II) in 1996. These were: “to increase the world’s
awareness of the problems and potentials of human settlements – as important
inputs to social progress and economic growth – and to commit the world’s
leaders to making our cities, towns and villages healthy, safe, just and
sustainable” (UK National Report, Habitat II, 1996). One decade down the line,
the urban problems in developing countries in particular, have escalated. Many
such cities are seriously affected by overcrowding, environmental degradation,
social disruption, unemployment, poor housing, inadequate infrastructure, poor
services and other manifestations of poverty.
Sustainable development implies the ability to meet the
needs of today without diminishing the capacity of future generations to meet
theirs; it involves a long term perspective about the consequences of today's
activities, and global co-operation to reach viable solutions. The three
pillars of sustainable development – economic, environmental and social
sustainability.
Historical Perspective to Global Environmental
Challenges
Problems
of non-sustainability and the recognition of unsustainable practices are not
new. An alarming picture of ecological disaster and unsustainable land use
practices were evidenced in such early civilizations, as in ancient Mesopotamia , Persia Greece and Rome (Greed, 1996). Ironically, over two
millennia after, the concerns rather than abate, have assumed global
dimensions, reflecting the shift, from basically agrarian societies to global
industrialisation.
As
the earth transits through phases of human-ecosystems relationships, ranging
from the primeval, early farming, early urban, urban-industrial and the global
interdependence phases, humanity faces a new series of environmental changes
and challenges, created essentially by its own activities (Haughton and Hunter,
1994). The scale, pace and scope of environmental degradation present
fundamental challenges to the stability of the global environment, possibly
posing a threat to the very survival of human and other living species.
Even
though some of these threats have been apparent for many years, in terms of an
international response, the Stockhold 1972 United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment, was a watershed that catalysed a growing understanding
internationally, that the resources of the world are limited and its
eco-systems are fragile and vulnerable to change. The challenge however became
more explicit, and the use of the term ‘sustainable development’ promoted, by
the 1987 Report of the World Commission of Environment and Development (the
Brundtland Commission) – Our Common
Future. This report also set the tone for much of the ensuing debate.
At
a broader level, contemporary global environmental challenges include issues of
climate, biodiversity, air quality, water, earth, and minerals. Global climate
refers to the increased likelihood of global warming and climate change as a
result of high levels of greenhouse gas emission from fossil fuel burning and
land use change. Of particular reference to Nigeria is the concern over
increasing deforestation without corresponding renewal through tree-planting.
Biodiversity describes the progressive loss of wildlife habitats due to the
impact of development and human activity, much of which in concentrated in
urban areas.
In
addition, poor air quality, especially in urban areas, as a result of
automobile traffic and industrial wastes, are hazardous and injurious to
health. Atmospheric pollution on a wider scale, leads to ozone depletion, acid
rain, and water contamination. Some parts
of the globe are experiencing declining water levels and resultant water supply
problems. Others face the challenge of excessive run-off, with consequent risk
of flooding and as is being witnessed in some Northern States of Nigeria . Loss
of soil through increased rates of erosion, loss of nutrients and soil
fertility, and problems of land contamination, dereliction and desertification,
are the plight of others. High rates of extraction of non-renewable mineral
resources reserves and sterilization of potential renewable sources are the
concerns in some places.
Urban Environmental Challenges in Nigeria
Developing
countries have been experiencing explosive growth in terms of population and
urbanization. During the latter last of the 20th Century, the urban population
of developing countries increased by 600 percent (UNCHS, 1996). This
‘demographic transition’ coupled with economic and developmental factors tend
to increase the volumes of poverty, slum generation and urban degradation,
thereby adding severe burdens to the provision of basic urban services.
Unfortunately, the non-existence of suitable or adequate environmental,
housing, social and health policies heightens the acuteness of these problems.
The situation in Nigeria
is not in any way different from this somber scenario. Many urban centres in Nigeria are
characterized by environmental problems such as overcrowding, poor sanitation,
poor housing, and air, water and noise pollution. These conventional problems,
which are likely to continue to dominate the lives of city dwellers, especially
the poor inhabitants, are being added to by changing urban realities. It is
increasingly becoming apparent that our urban problems are intimately tied up
with other concerns of global environmental sustainability.
In
the years ahead, these ‘conventional problems’ are likely to be increasingly
overlaid by a new dimension of environmental challenges. There may be huge
challenges:
-
to redesign and rebuild cities, neighbourhoods and
buildings so as to conserve energy and reduce or recycle waste;
to adopt energy-saving urban -
transport systems;
-
to develop sustainable forms of housing and other
building types;
-
to conserve historic urban areas, open spaces and
natural landscapes; and
-
to provide care at an urban level, for increasing
numbers of street children and old people, in the face of harsh socio-economic
realities.
Relevance and
Applicability of Urban Sustainability
The
question may be asked whether the ideas of sustainability and sustainable
development are not merely another “white-man’s gimmick” to hoodwink the
developing and less-developed nations into a carefully planned strategy of
“neo-colonization”. Does sustainable development really have relevance to our
needs here in Nigeria ?
This paper answers in the affirmative. The interrelatedness of the world’s
natural resources, its human population and economics, means that progress
towards sustainable development must involve action at every level from global to local. Nigeria cannot
be exempted from the global network of moves towards sustainability because:
“…in
an evermore inter-linked world, action (or even inaction) in one area can have
world-wide impacts. If the future development of human settlements is
manhandled, the adverse consequences could be felt at the global scale.
Conversely, if we deal with large-scale urbanizations in a sustainable manner,
we all stand to benefit” (Choguill and Choguill, 1996).
It
must however be noted, that the application of sustainable development concepts
in the developing countries of the South cannot tow the line of the experiences
of the industrialized countries of the North. Peculiar needs arise in
developing countries such as Nigeria .
One of such primary concerns is the problem of poverty.
Researches have revealed, for example, the internal
conflicts -
transport systems;
-
to develop sustainable forms of housing and other
building types;
-
to conserve historic urban areas, open spaces and
natural landscapes; and
-
to provide care at an urban level, for increasing
numbers of street children and old people, in the face of harsh socio-economic
realities.
References
Choguill and
Choguill (1996), Toward Sustainable Infrastructure for Low-Income Communities,
in Cedric Pugh (ed.) Sustainability, the
Environment and Urbanization, pp.83-102.
Greed, C. (1996) ed. Investigating Town Planning: Changing
Perspectives and Agendas. London :
Longman.
Hall, P. and Pfeiffer U. London
and New York :
E & FN Spon.
Haughton E. and Hunter C. (1994). Sustainable Cities, Regional Policy and
Development Series, London :
Jessica Kingsley.
Mitlin, D. (1992) Sustainable
Development: A Guide to the Literature. Environment
and Urbanization 4(1), April, pp.111-124.
No comments:
Post a Comment