The constant sound of cities is detrimental for our health. This is just one conclusion. UN report published Thursday.
According to UN, people from all parts of the world, including New York and Barcelona, Cario and Cario, are at high risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes due to the noise pollution caused by traffic and construction sites. environment programme.
Noise pollution: Cities that never go to sleep
Europe alone is home to 48,0000 cases per year of heart disease and 12,000 premature deaths each year.
Birds are the most affected in the animal kingdom. Zebra finches, tree sparrows and tits are singing louder or adjusting their frequency so they can communicate with each other over the clamor. This is causing more misunderstandings between birds, which can lead to fewer males finding a mate. Their new songs aren’t always well received.
According to the, it could be beneficial to plant more trees and shrubbery in cities. report’s authors. The use of plants would disperse and soften noise while improving the climate and urban environment. For example, a line of trees planted behind a noise barrier wall can reduce noise levels by approximately 12 decibels.
According to researchers, cyclists would benefit from more space.
You can also reduce traffic noise by increasing cycleways and reducing the number of car lanes. Green zones in cities could encourage quieter electric vehicles, and improve air quality.
Natural disturbance Rhythms
Migratory birds are no longer flying south in the winter, plants are blooming much earlier, and birds are building nests for their young earlier when there are not enough insects around to feed them.
Climate change is not just increasing global average temperatures, it’s also disrupting life cycles established over thousands of years. These changes are affecting all kinds of habitats from mountain areas and coastal regions to forests and grasslands.
The planet is warming at a rate that animals and plants cannot adapt, increasing the risk of ecosystems in the ocean and land being destroyed with unforeseeable consequences for humanity.
Migratory birds are one of the species that are affected by shifting seasons
We must reduce emissions quickly and drastically to slow climate change. But to deal with changes to life cycles, the researchers say it’s essential to actively protect species, restore ecosystems and connect habitats by creating wildlife corridors. This is the only way to ensure that species’ gene pools remain intact and that they have the chance to adapt to new conditions through natural selection.
Fighting fire with fire
WildfiresThey are a natural part in many environments, but longer and more extreme heatwaves as well as droughts are prolonging fire seasons which can increase the chance of fires starting.
Fires decimated vast swathes forest in California, Siberia and Australia last year. These fires also released large amounts of pollutants like soot, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases, which significantly impacted the air quality in nearby towns. Wildfires can also lead to water pollution, marine eutrophication, and loss of biodiversity.
Globally, fires related to climate change are becoming more common
The UN report authors suggest that some precautionary measures can be taken to reduce wildfires and their effects. Better cooperation between neighboring regions, satellite monitoring, lightning Improved early warning systems and firefighting capability could all help.
Experts also recommend traditional methods of fighting fire with flame. Because it uses all available fuel, controlled burning of bush or forest creates a barrier against an oncoming forest fire. Certain ecosystems may benefit from fires. Some plants and flowers only grow when their seeds have been heated by burning.
This article was originally published as a German translation.
