Introduction

In this report I will discuss the Built Environment and its impact on Natural Environment by means of a case study of Glasgow and its suburbs.  

Also identify the current challenges to the Natural Environment and suggest strategies to manage these, so that current and future Development becomes Sustainable.

Firstly, it is necessary to define Natural Environment, Built Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate change.

  • Natural Environment: The natural environment, generally referred to simply as the environment, it is also a term that comprises all living and non-living things that occur naturally on Earth or some part of it. A complete landscape units that function as natural system without enormous human involvement, including all plants, animals, rocks and natural phenomena that occur within their boundaries.   A geographical area is regarded as a natural environment if the human impact on it is kept under a certain limited level. This level depends on specific context. General natural resources and physical phenomena that lack clear boundaries such as air, water, climate , energy, radiation, electric charge and magnetism not originating from human activity.

  • Built Environment:  The phrase built environment refers to the manmade surroundings that provide the setting for humane activity, ranging from the large scale civic surroundings to the personal places. The expression as well means a small fraction of buildings constructed annually and designed by architects, historically much of the built environment has taken the form of vernacular architecture. In addition the phrase connotes the idea that a large percentage of the human environment is manmade and these artificial surroundings are so extensive and cohesive that they function as organisms in the consumption of the resources, disposal of wastes, and facilitation of productive enterprise within its bounds.

  • Sustainable Development: Is defined as balancing the fulfillment of human needs with the protection of the natural environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present but in the indefinite future as well.  Sustainable development does not focus solely on environmental issues. More broadly, sustainable development policies encompass 3 general policy areas: economic, environment and social. The concept has also included notions of weak sustainability, strong sustainability and deep ecology.

“WE DO NOT INHERIT THE EARTH FROM OUR ANCESTORS, WE BORROW IT FROM OUR CHILDERN”

Chief  Seattle

"Meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Brundtland Commission.

  • Climate change: Refers to the variation in the earth’s global climate or in regional climates over time. It describes the changes in the variability; the causes of these changes can be by the processes internal to the  

                                                             Flooding in Glasgow, 1st August 2002

 earth, external forces, variations in sunlight intensity and more recently human activities. The term “climate change” often refers to changes in modern climate which according to IPCC are 90-95% likely to have been in part caused by human action. Glaciers are recognized as one of the most sensitive indicators of climate change, advancing substantially during climate cooling and retreating during climate warming on moderate

                                                                                 Flooding, Springburn road 2002

time scales. The biggest factor of present concern is the increase in CO2 level due to emissions from fossil fuel combustion, followed by aerosols which exert a cooling effect and cement manufacture. Other factors, including land use, ozone depletion, animal agriculture and deforestation also impact climate.

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The words Glasgow, or Glas Cu as it once was, means “dear green place”.

The way Glasgow city has been developed in the past, and how it relates to built and natural environment; well be discussed in this section of the report. Just over 1000 years ago forests extended across most of Scotland, especially the whole of the Scottish Highlands. There are a number of historical accounts of what happened to the forest, according to the green party 1989 that great tracts of natural forest existed until the 17 and 18 centuries, during this period large areas were cleared. ...

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