Only a person living on Mars for the last twenty years is not concerned by the deterioration in the environment. Many concerned people focus their efforts on forestation, farmlands, endangered species and alternative fuels. All are logical areas for research, investment and innovative solutions. However, I read little about the effect of urbanization on the environment.
In this post from 2011 I pointed out that over 700 million people will move into cities in the next 20 years. Managing the effects of this scale of migration on the environment represents an issue that needs much more attention. I anticipate that many cities will not have the transportation infrastructure to support the supply of daily necessities and the effects of hydrocarbon fuel burning vehicles will bring air pollution issues to a new level. Unless personal vehicles are banned in cities (which is not likely), the only alternative I see is to bring farming inside the cities. Of course, with so many additional people in the cities, the only way to incorporate farming is to think in cubic terms and large vertical structures.
Fortunately, some architects are already addressing the issue, as reported in this article from io9. Very cool drawings of farm buildings in cities. I particularly like the metropolitan pig farm rendering. Perhaps the pig waste will move through underground piping similar to current water systems to the tomato farms. Could have some profound effects on the nature of food exports. Wonder if the Chileans will develop and license metropolitan salmon farming technology.
Image credit: informedfarmer.com