With growing population in cities, more and more people live in a home with small or no outdoor areas. Is it a positive or negative development?
居住地有小的或者几乎没有户外空间是消极的发展
As cities become more and more congested, many people find themselves living in a home with little to no outdoor spaces. Though some people may consider it a minor inconvenience, I believe it is a negative development.
Firstly, living in such a home hurts the residents’ mental health. Though adaptable, people are not meant to be cooped up in enclosed spaces all the time. People need outdoor spaces, preferably with greenery, to breathe fresh air and relax. Without such, people may eventually succumb to depression or anxiety, making life even more complex.
Secondly, people may become more detached from environmental problems. When people are not regularly around something, it is difficult for them to care. The lack of an outdoor area at home means many people may not regularly see trees and flowers nor have any pets, making them more indifferent to environmental issues. In the long run, this may lead to more wastage and pollution.
Lastly, the lack of outdoor spaces at home means lesser vegetation in the city, which affects pollution levels. In many cities, green spaces are disappearing to make way for more living spaces. However, since these new accommodations do not have enough garden space, the city is running out of greenery to counteract the carbon emissions from people and vehicles. That is why many regularly complain about the lack of fresh air in the city.
To sum up, this development of homes with little to no outdoor spaces is not something city planners and homeowners should be happy about. Though it may satisfy the need for housing, the future might not be so bright for its residents or the environment. Hopefully, something can be done to reverse this housing trend in the city before things become worse.