For centuries, humans have acted under the belief that they are separate from—and superior to—nature. This mindset has resulted in environmental degradation, climate change, biodiversity loss, rising disease risks, and increasingly extreme climatic events. In recent decades, however, there has been a gradual shift in perspective, with governments, institutions, and individuals recognizing the urgent need to restore harmony between urban life and nature.
Urbanization has been central to human progress, offering economic opportunity, better services, and improved living standards. Yet cities have also distanced people from nature and emerged as major contributors to environmental stress. Over 34% of India’s population currently lives in urban areas, a figure projected to rise to 40% by 2030. Globally, cities account for nearly 70% of pollution, making them a critical focus area for environmental intervention.
Urban infrastructure can play a decisive role in reversing ecological damage. Contrary to popular belief, this does not require a radical overhaul of city planning. Strategic, incremental changes in urban master plans can significantly improve environmental outcomes and reconnect urban life with nature.
Key Interventions for Nature-Centric Cities
Increasing Urban Green Cover: Indian cities suffer from alarmingly low per capita green space. Beyond planned parks and gardens, cities must incorporate unstructured green areas where natural ecosystems can thrive. Green infrastructure absorbs carbon dioxide, lowers urban temperatures, and supports biodiversity. Policies encouraging rooftop gardens, indoor greenery, and tree plantation—especially along roads and public spaces—can substantially improve urban environmental health.
Water Conservation and Blue Infrastructure: Effective water management reduces dependence on potable water and helps recharge groundwater. Cities should prioritize stormwater harvesting and decentralized wastewater treatment systems. Smaller, distributed treatment plants allow natural sedimentation, improve reuse, and prevent untreated discharge into water bodies, supporting both conservation and pollution control.
Waste Reduction and Resource Recovery: Urban consumerism has intensified waste generation. Cities must strengthen waste segregation, collection, and processing infrastructure. Household-level segregation of wet and dry waste, composting, recycling, and waste-to-energy solutions are essential for sustainable waste management. Technology-enabled systems across household, community, and treatment levels can significantly reduce landfill dependency.
Transition to Alternative Energy: Fossil fuels remain a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions. Cities must reduce this dependence by integrating renewable energy into urban infrastructure. Rooftop solar installations, solar-powered street lighting, bus shelters, and utilization of urban wastelands for renewable energy can accelerate the clean energy transition.
Conclusion
The recent pandemic has underscored the limits of human control over nature. Sustainable urban development is no longer a choice—it is a necessity. Cities, as major consumers of resources and generators of pollution, must lead the fight against climate change. By embedding nature-sensitive planning into urban infrastructure, cities can offer a higher quality of life while restoring ecological balance. Urban planning, as a discipline, holds the potential to shape a future where cities coexist with nature rather than compete against it.