Sustainability in the City: Unlocking Belfast’s Green Potential
Lisa Denton
As part of climate change organisation Thirty Under Thirty’s initiative “to unearth, inspire, and equip 30 leaders under the age of 30 who can play an instrumental part in shaping a better climate future for Northern Ireland and beyond,” sub-team VACAN have embarked on their own climate change awareness mission.
For one day only, a temporary garden was displayed in the city centre’s Royal Avenue, with the aim of increasing awareness of how disused spaces could be elevated into places for nature to thrive.
The Scoop spoke to climate change ambassadors Una Barrett and Emma Denton about the importance of raising awareness for utilising empty spaces in Belfast.
According to Una, the current ground vacancy rates in Belfast sit at an alarming “20 per cent”. To overcome this issue, the youth activist said that VACAN aims to “use Royal Avenue as the test case for what can be done in the city at short notice, and with relatively little effort”.
She added that as it stands, empty spaces “take away from the neighbourhood and from people who want to come here because there is nowhere to go and relax in nature”.
“Belfast is such a beautiful place but there is so much vacancy in it.”
With the help of Belfast City Council, Botanic Gardens, Social Farms and Gardens and The Green East, VACAN showcased various varieties of plants and flowers to the public with the mission of turning Belfast ‘from grey to green’.
On VACAN’S mission for combating climate change
Emma said “we can do a lot for climate change by beginning more green spaces.
Sustainable drainage systems, green roofs, and walls, are great ways to create habitats for wildlife and are stepping-stones for nature throughout the city.”
She continued to add that within the space of a few hours, the team noticed a visible insect increase with many “bees and hoverflies coming to visit”.
“It shows the impact that small, even temporary green spaces can have.
“It’s about educating Belfast on how we can transform disused areas into usable productive gardens and spaces for people to relax and nature to use as well.”
The Takeaway
Green spaces have not only been shown to absorb CO2 emissions in congested areas, but studies show they positively impact mental health and wellbeing too.
According to the Earth Observatory, people living with little to no green space nearby, are “55 per cent” more likely to develop anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
Una finished by saying that “we only have one earth, we don’t have a second chance at fixing it”.
With an expanding number of environmental campaigns and events, including the upcoming ‘How to Hear the Voice of Nature in This Time of Capitalism in Free-Fall’ event in University Quarter, we will soon see how the eco-future fares for Belfast’s most urban areas.
Featured images courtesy of Lisa Denton.
Lisa Denton is a reporter for Science and Environment and a final year English and Creative Writing Student at Queen’s University Belfast.