An ability to co-exist comfortably and continuously without compromising how future generations will live and can is categorized into environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Whenever there are development plans, sustainability is vital in determining how it will be done without changing how future generations will be existing. Therefore, in Edinburgh, to develop it, attention has to be focused on how it will be done without destroying the environment and focusing on how future generations will be living in the city without depleted resources. Sustainability, therefore, should be bearable, equitable, and viable.
SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Social sustainability can be achieved by having people live harmoniously and in a way that they can cope up with each other in different ways. Therefore, sustainability is achieved by promoting people’s well-being via understanding what they need in their residence places and where they work. Social sustainability can be achieved by having various fundamental rights and amenities granted to them. Hence, while developing Edinburgh, infrastructure that supports social amenities must be put to help attain social sustainability.
The first step to achieving social sustainability is through equity in the sense that opportunities should be presented to all society members regardless of their rank, gender, and position in the community. Development of the City of Edinburgh means that residential houses for the people living in it will be built according to their classes anmd shoul not be fixed. To encourage social sustainability, people of all economic classes have to be considered while making the residential houses. This can be achieved by having the residential homes of all people’s levels, ensuring that there is equity and reasonable living standards for all.
Another aspect that promotes social sustainability is having in mind the quality of life in which the people will lead in the city. This is achieved by having the people access basic needs such as health, housing, safety, education, and employment. As many people will be living in the city as they work in it, it will be honorable to access adequate health by having hospitals at their disposal. Proper houses to live in, education for their children, having law and order by having its reinforcers to protect their property, and having employment through having industries and firms where they will work so that their financial needs will be achieved.
ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
Economic sustainability is defined by having practices that support long-term finances while having no impact on the environment, social, and cultural aspects. This, thus, that growth will have to mind other factors and should be done in a very responsible way. Economic sustainability will be achieved by having economic resilience in a way that people have places where they can work and earn a living rather than spending money, which cannot be reimbursed. This is done by building industries and infrastructure where the residents will get an income that will support them.
In developing the City of Edinburgh, economic players in the city’s economy, such as tourism, banking and finance, the transport sector, and others will have to be put in mind so that they will continue to put money in the pockets of the residents. This can be done by having them given priority during the development to achieve sustainability and economic resilience.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Environmental sustainability means that natural and ecological resources are protected and well maintained for the sake of future generations. Humans are wholly dependent on the natural environment for food and air, vital in human life. Therefore, the environment cannot be ignored as it plays a crucial role in all humans’ lives. Environmental responsibility can be achieved by paying attention to natural resources like water, air, land, forests, Greenlands, and many more.
Air
Primarily, air determines the kind of lifestyle that will be followed by all humans who are living and future generations. Air should be kept clean to enable humans to breathe normally and correctly, thus allowing the human body to be at optimum levels. As the city is being developed, achieving clean air should be a target. It can be done in various ways, such as reducing carbon emissions by focusing on renewable energy sources rather than using fossil fuels that release a lot of carbon into the air. Aiming to reduce carbon levels while developing the city by focusing on developing transport networks that release low carbon such as electric trams to move passengers in the town rather than cars should be made a priority. Tapping into technology to get solutions to problems like using fossil fuels such as charcoal and wood to switch to alternatives like the use of gas as a source of heat and fire for cooking will also reduce carbon emissions. This will be done by focusing on the production of gas and other sources of energy through other conventional methods instead of cutting down trees for wood.
Water
Water is an essential resource to the lives of all humans, animals, plants, and therefore should be used efficiently without wasting and polluting as life depends on it. Hence, water and water sources should be jealously protected against wastage and pollution by everyone in the community.
There are two natural sources of water in the City of Edinburgh, namely, the North Sea and Water of Leith, a river passing through the city. The two are very important as they offer food, income through transportation, water for industries, and habitat to many animals. That makes the water an essential resource that must be conserved. In the city’s development plans, there must be ways in which this vital resource should be made sustainable. Water Sustainability of can be done by ensuring that water recycling plants are incorporated in the development projects and have proper waste disposal. Management plans to not find its way into the water bodies, thus polluting it.
Land
Natural areas and green spaces are essential to the city residents in the sense that they are used as places where pastime and leisure activities can be done. Consequently, land should be appropriately used as an asset and should not be wasted as it cannot be renewed. Hence, land with parks like Hydrood Park and the green belts should not be used for development but protected as the trees help clean the air and make the environment beautiful.
In conclusion, development projects should be done carefully to destroy the environment and social fabrics in future generations. With sustainable plans and action, it will therefore be easy to have a sustainable Edinburgh.