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Our towns and villages have been promised open space after a free-for all building spree that saw the development of numerous private gardens in their villages and towns. This, it is said, will bring nature closer towards people. A shining sun, which hopefully will produce less hay!
The implementation of the first open space proposal is close to completion. An open space in the Tar-Rabbat Housing Estate in Ħamrun has been partially built-up to produce an artificial garden on concrete stilts! The area below concrete stilts has been reserved for car parking. This is not an open area.
The open spaces we need should not be added to the concrete jungle that has grown unabated over the years. The open spaces should not be surrounded by any construction. They should allow for cars to be removed from the urban environment and, preferably, be relegated to the outskirts of our towns and villages. The open spaces are designed to reintroduce nature in our lives, even though it is only in a limited manner.
Our urban areas were not allowed to develop by themselves for too long. They have been guided by market-friendly or business-friendly authorities, resulting in the urban jungle we now live in every day. This is a result of political decisions, which have placed profits above people and their quality-of-life.
Open spaces can be created in urban areas to improve the quality of life. It is also a chance to bring urban design in line with climate change mitigation policy.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change published the latest climate change report earlier this month. The document, which is almost 3000 pages long emphasizes that the Paris 2015 Climate Summit goals will not be achieved without fundamental changes in our lifestyles.
Gozo and Malta, as islands, should be at forefront of the international climate change discussion. Climate change is already happening. Extreme temperatures, droughts for long periods or sudden floods are not uncommon in the Maltese islands. This has been a frequent occurrence in the Maltese islands over the years.
The coastal areas will be affected by the sea-level rising. Large stretches are used for residential purposes, or for the maritime and tourist industries. Depending on the extent of the sea level rise, all this activity would be severely affected. It is in our best interest that any sea level rise caused by climate change be minimal, if any. This can only be achieved if the Paris Summit climate mitigation targets are met quickly.
One of the hot topics in the climate debate is to rethink urban design strategy. This is one of the main tools to combat climate crisis. The idea crystallised as “the 15-minute city” by Carlos Moreno, an architect advising the Paris Mayor, entails turning current urban planning on its head to ensure that all our needs are available not more than 15 minutes away on foot or by bike! As a result, our dependence on the car would be eliminated and we could even claim back our streets. The open spaces initiative could fit in perfectly within the parameters of the “15-minute city”.
Can we reconsider the quality and nature of urban life within this framework.
The Covid-19 pandemic gave many of us the chance to work remotely. If this could become a permanent part of urban life, many of us wouldn’t have to travel to work every single day. This would reduce our dependence on the car and help to curb it. This would have a significant impact on carbon emissions over a long period.
Our contribution to climate mitigation, which could help us accelerate our path towards carbon neutrality, could be made without affecting our mobility. Mobility can be significantly improved by making judicious use and facilitating other sustainable mobility options.
All public transport will become free starting October. It is hoped that it will be reliable and efficient. This could be a turning point for climate change mitigation measures if it is well planned. Over time, it could lead to a decrease in cars on our roads. This reduction would be temporary at first. We can eventually make a permanent shift.
This is where open spaces, if properly planned, play a crucial role. They enhance our quality of living by connecting us to nature in our 15-minute towns.
Carmel Cacopardo is the Chairperson of AD + PD – The Green Party of Malta.
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