Did you know that Portland produces 2,434,840 tons and recovers 1,235,924 tons of it?
(White, 2019). Portland is numbered in top 10 eco-friendly cities around the world as mentioned in sources across the world. It follows several methods to ensure sustainability throughout the city and decrease the use of products harming the environment.
Portland is more than just stunning scenery; it has consequently evolved into one of the most environmentally friendly places to reside globally, with 92,000 acres of natural areas. Portland has initiated major plans to promote sustainability such as: banning plastic bags and employing 33% renewable energy compared to the national average which is 13%. In regard to waste management within the city, Portland has achieved remarkable results for a major urban center. The majority of the residents in Portland commute through biking, carpooling, or public transportation decreasing the number of vehicles on the streets leading to less chances of pollution.
As for the water supply, Portland has developed a globally recognized stormwater management program that has been in operation since the early 1990s. This initiative aims to prevent sewer flooding, decrease contaminants in rainwater, and safeguard and improve groundwater quality. This approach requires connecting with many other disciplines including engineering, architecture and these experts work together with their combined knowledge, expertise, and perspectives to develop and implement solutions for sustainable water management, to achieve environmental and community goals.
According to IQAir, Portland has 7 AQI US which falls under the safest region for air quality. Portland.gov says that Portland was able to reduce the local emissions to 15% below 1990 levels. While working on various sectors such as transportation management and waste management being a coastal city NYC must prioritize water management as well. The sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, so the city needs to increase its coastal defenses and adapt to more advanced plans to improve the water management.
I believe New York City should adapt the changes made in the water system as Portland because our history speaks for itself. New York City has witnessed severe flash flooding in recent years, with some of the most devastating events occurring within the past few years. Urban areas like New York are particularly vulnerable to flash flooding due to the way the streets are designed they can easily become clogged, blocking the drainage. Additionally, the city’s limited natural waterways make it challenging for flood water level to get down.
One of the most concerning aspects of major city flooding is the large population which significantly increases the risk of casualties. Just a couple months ago the city was completely flooded including the subway station and streets blocking the way for any means of transportation. This made the public face many challenges such as missing out on work, running errands, or having to commute while walking through flooded areas increasing the risk of harm and casualties. Not only that, but the residents also personal properties were damaged as well including the cars that were stuck in the flood out in the streets and the apartment’s that were flooded damaging all the home goods and other personal property. From the news, we could gather that the Brooklyn and Bronx sides were heavily affected from the flood. The city should implement a new draining system to prevent casualties and any harm to the property from extreme flooding. I believe with the initiative for waste management such as Zero Act Waste, we should also invest more time and effort in focusing on the flood management and draining system in New York City.
Now, building a new drainage system might take a lot of time and money but it is important to take these issues seriously as it involves the lives of people. I believe the city should put the safety of the people first and not risk anyone’s life due to the amount of time and money required to invest. It is the city’s first priority to keep its residents safe and avoid any incidents that involve any damage in the city.
Some of the images from recent flooding in NYC are linked below:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/new-york-city-braces-major-flooding-heavy-rain/story?id=103593175
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/127-year-water-main-nycs-times-square-flooding-102643443
https://www.curbed.com/2023/09/flash-floods-soak-new-york-city.html
Indeed, New York City’s sustainability initiatives have been progressing in a positive direction, where the new plan executed by the New York’s government and contributions made by individuals are playing a vital role. We can see that the collective effort of New Yorkers is leading the city towards a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future for current and future generations.
In densely populated urban areas like New York City these flash flood events are highly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions, making it crucial for the city to continually improve its flood management and resilience efforts.
Self- Reflection
While writing this informational report, I had a lot of chance to educate myself more on the pressing matters of the lack of sustainability in New York. I learned about various techniques that the cities around the world are implementing in order to promote sustainability which helped me grow my knowledge and be aware of the situations that is harming the environment with severe consequences for our natural resources for current and future generation. These learning experiences of mine has helped me gain insights on the long-lasting impact of our actions on the environment.
I’ve also been mindful in using clean energy, raise awareness regarding the influence the businesses have by their sustainability practices and their impact in the world. The lack of our awareness can cause the world to face serious consequences and possibly lead to its destruction gradually. The most important thing we can do is to understand these consequences of our decisions and to acknowledge that our choices can indeed have a significant influence on the environment.
The world is our home, so it is our duty to protect and do every measure possible to save it. It is in our hands to preserve what we have and make up for what has been lost. Adapting sustainability should be a major step and a necessity for every city and businesses as we might not get a second chance and clearly do not have enough time to reverse all the damage that’s been done throughout the years. So, let’s all get together and collectively stand for what’s right and give the nature the love and care it deserves with all the power we hold.
References
https://www.portland.gov/bps/about-bps
