LETTERS: The Covid-19 pandemic has enabled many countries to rethink how to operate their cities more efficiently and sustainably with the consideration of green spaces.
In general, green spaces refer to initiatives that encourage the development of open space in an urban setting — providing people with the avenue to exercise, relax and socialise.
For instance, parks, waterfronts, walking trails, sports fields, community gardens, forests and beaches are known as green spaces that could integrate the natural environment with the built environment within the city itself, creating refuges of peace and quietness within the bustle of the city life.
By integrating nature and high-rise buildings into city planning, green spaces could slow down the rapid urbanisation in the country. At the same time, it helps to promote better physical and mental health of all Malaysians, regardless of socio-economic status, neighbourhoods and genders.
A scientific review published in The Lancet Planetary Health found that urbanites living near a park or a garden had a lower risk of premature death. They also tend to have a lower risk of lung diseases and diabetes.
On Dec 2 last year, Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) indicated in its State of the Households 2020 report that several Malaysian states with higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (that is, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sarawak and Selangor) record higher life expectancies compared with poorer states.
Studies have shown that people who spend at least two hours in nature each week are less likely to have depression, anxiety and stress besides better sleep quality, generating higher levels of wellbeing, including greater happiness and life satisfaction.
According to a 2019 study conducted by the University of Arizona, 60 per cent of students reported that they had better problem-solving skills after spending more time in nature. The majority had better attention spans and learning abilities, as well as better imagination and creativity.
Furthermore, green spaces in a city could reduce atmospheric temperatures between 2° and 8°C, stimulating community walkability, food security, job creation and youth engagement.
Therefore, to create more urban green spaces in Malaysia, the government could consider some of the initiatives below:
INSTALLING pedestrian walkways or cycling pathways in place of roadways, promoting not more than a 15-minute walking or cycling distance for most shops, parks, leisure facilities and residential areas. With these facilities, the local citizens can enjoy nature, get fit, relax and release stress through cycling and jogging activities;
CREATING mini-forests to remove carbon dioxide and air pollution, reduce water pollution and serve as a noise buffer. They also provide habitat for other organisms such as birds and insects. Even though mini-forests are small, they can restore biodiversity to cities;
CONVERTING empty spaces into urban farms, tackling food security-related issues besides making good use of the existing sites; and,
UTILISING natural resources of the country to create more green jobs for the benefit of its citizens. Malaysia could invest in reducing the cost of low-carbon energy-efficient technologies such as solar, wind and bio-energy, transforming into a low-carbon economy.
Now is the time for us to provide accessible and high-quality green spaces in Malaysia.
AMANDA YEO
EMIR Research, Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times