By: Julia Fazzio
Media Productions
Every day, governments build new buildings, housing, and facilities within cities. Studies show that urban expansion into nature in the United States destroys around 6,000 acres of wildlife daily, resulting in thousands of animals losing their homes and a constant disruption of the Earth’s natural materials. The U.S. government and public agencies need to stop expanding real estate and should instead start prioritizing the Earth’s health, especially in developing urban areas.
Nature Cities explained, “The compounding effect of climate change and urban population and socioeconomic growth emerges as a critical concern.” While we need cities to put roofs over many people’s heads, a recent study affirms that there are an alarmingly high number of uninhabited buildings in most cities. USA Facts reported: “Over 15 million American homes—approximately 10% of the country’s housing inventory—were vacant in 2024.” This surprising number goes to show that the motives behind the constant expansion of cities all around America have less to do with trying to give people homes and more to do with expanding companies and corporations.
Nature Cities defines land subsidence as the process of the Earth’s surface slowly sinking. Building cities that disrupt land speeds up this process and is a substantial problem because the Earth is already in critical condition. Often considered solely a coastal hazard due to relative sea-level rise, subsidence also threatens inland urban areas, causing increased flood risks, structural damage, and transportation disruptions. Some fear a future world where the land everywhere is filled with cities and vegetation is hard or impossible to come by.
While it is easy to feel powerless over the changes happening around us, there are steps to take to try to make a change. Starting off, there are petitions online to sign, possibly even one that is for your own city. You also can take it up with a local politician and ask what they are doing to help restore the natural land and cap the real estate. The important thing to remember is that it is not too late. According to Climate Clock, “We now have four years to move civilization off fossil fuels to avert climate catastrophe.” This timer can seem intimidating, but the important thing to take from that is that now is the perfect time to act. Now is the time to protect the land we live on from the constant building of new cities before the effects are irreversible.
(Sources: USA Facts, Climate Clock, Nature Cities)