Concrete dangers

It is old news that producing concrete is an environmental hazard. "Cement is a climate villain. Making it is thought to produce 5% of all global greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and factories." (SCIENCE, 2016) Concrete may later absorb the carbon dioxide (CO2), but that is a long term process and we do not have enough time. Substitutes for paving roads with concrete are equally environmentally damaging. Erik Stokstad wrote: "... it's already clear that asphalt belongs in official inventories of air pollution sources." (SCIENCE, 2020)

The problem is broader than just with the paving materials. Much of the use of asphalt and concrete covers  places for plant and trees to grow. As O. Wallace wrote : "Looking beyond the usual suspects, many people would be surprised to find out that something as mundane as a parking lot could also be bad for the environment." (ALLTHINGSNATURE, 2022) More parking places makes it more convenient for people to drive cars, but, he goes on: "More pavement means less green space, thereby reducing the number of trees and plants that serve as natural 'air cleaners' by absorbing carbon dioxide in the air and releasing oxygen. It also means less open soil that can collect rainwater, which helps to replenish natural aquifers." (ALLTHINGSNATURE, 2022) 

Happily St. George's does not have its own parking lot, though Preußenallee and the neighbouring streets offer abundant parking space, which the city could eliminate. One of the things that parish members can do is to campaign for more green spaces by eliminating parking lots and narrowing streets.  Such efforts are a small step toward preserving God's creation.


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