The Role of Environmental Design and Planning in Reducing Ecological Footprint and the Effects of Neoliberalism in Cities

Urban ecosystems, like other ecosystems on Earth, are evolving through ecological succession from early stages toward maturity. This process of evolution involves the transformation of energy from one form to another in accordance with the First Law of Thermodynamics, which in cities often manifests as the extraction of energy from natural resources and its conversion into urban functions such as transportation, construction, industrial production, etc. Unfortunately, humans sometimes disrupt and even cause the decline of ecosystem development through excessive greed and intervention in nature for personal gain, as seen in neoliberal systems. In cities governed by neoliberalism, economic growth optimization takes priority, marginalizing environmental sustainability. Within this framework, cities become engines of economic growth, consuming vast amounts of energy and depleting natural resources through rampant urbanization and massive infrastructure development. Urban processes generally lead to the over-exploitation and degradation of natural resources, increasing entropy in accordance with the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This rise in entropy manifests as urban waste, air and water pollution, and a reduction in the regenerative capacity of ecosystems. In other words, the energy and resources consumed in cities are often irreversible to natural systems, exacerbating environmental crises such as climate change. The ecological footprint of cities increases significantly, placing a heavy burden on natural systems and urban ecosystems. This article, focusing on the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics and stages of ecological succession, examines the role of environmental design and planning in reducing the ecological footprint and mitigating the negative impacts of neoliberalism in cities. The results indicate that sustainable design and the use of ecosystem-based approaches can guide cities toward sustainability and environmental balance by optimizing resource management and reducing entropy.

The Role of Environmental Design and Planning in Reducing Ecological Footprint and the Effects of Neoliberalism in Cities Keywords:

Ecological Succession , Ecological Footprint , Thermodynamic Laws , Neoliberalism