The constant city noise is bad for our health. This is one conclusion from a new study. UN report published today.
According to the UN, people all over the world, from Barcelona and Cario, to New York, are at risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease due to the constant roaring of traffic, construction sites, and other sources noise pollution. environment programme.
Noise pollution: Cities that don’t sleep
Europe alone is home to 48,0000 cases per year of heart disease and 12,000 premature deaths each year.
Birds are among the most severely affected animals 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. However, this is causing more frequent misunderstandings among birds and can reduce the chances of males finding a partner for mating. Their new songs don’t always go down well with the birds.
According to the, it could be beneficial to plant more trees and shrubbery in cities. report’s authors. Plants could 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.
Researchers say that giving cyclists more space would reduce the noise level.
It is possible to reduce traffic noise by increasing cycleways and reducing the number of car lanes. The creation of green zones in cities would encourage quieter electric cars and improve air quality.
Natural disturbance The 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’s warming speed is causing animal and plant species to not adapt. This increases the risk that ecosystems on land and at sea could collapse, with unanticipated consequences for humanity.
Shifting seasons affect migratory birds, too.
To slow the pace and severity of climate change, we need to drastically reduce our emissions. But to deal with changes to life cycles, the researchers say it’s essential to actively protect species, to restore ecosystems and to 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.
Last year, huge areas of forest were destroyed by fires in California, Siberia, Turkey, and Australia. The fires also produced large amounts of greenhouse gases and soot. This significantly affected the air quality in nearby areas. Wildfires can also contribute to water pollution, marine overfishing, and loss in 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. Improved cooperation between neighboring regions, satellite tracking, lightening detection and improved early warning systems could all help.
Experts also recommend traditional methods of fighting fire with flame. The controlled burning of forests or bush can be used to create a barrier against a forest fire. Fires can be beneficial in certain ecosystems because some plants and flowers grow only when their seeds are heated by burning.
This article was originally published in German
