New trends in urban management

1. Remember the following words and word combinations:

urban – городской

threshhold – порог, преддверие

precaution – предосторожность

demanding management – регулирование спроса

carrying capacity – допускаемая нагрузка

loop – петля

long-range – перспективный, большого радиуса действия

equity – справедливость

output – продукция, выпуск, производительность

natural material – природный материал

to surge – возникать

vernacular – национальный, народный, родной

diligent – прилежный, старательный

to revive – возрождаться, пробуждаться

option – выбор

damage – вред, ущерб

to further – способствовать, содействовать

appreciation – понимание, оценка

sound – здоровый, крепкий, неиспорченный

self-sufficient – самостоятельный, независимый

 

2. Read and translate the text below:

Text 4 A

The Environmental Protection

The environmental protection brings together social, economic, moral and political considerations. Urban management must take these considerations into account and incorporate the following principles:

Environmental limits. Uncertainly about the environmental threshhold of the earth’s carrying capacity requires the adoption of the precautionary principle and calls for demanding management.

Environmental efficiency. Reducing the use of natural resources, increasing durability and closing resource loops will contribute to long-range environmentally compatible urban management.

Welfare efficiency and equity. Multiple use and social and economic diversity, as well as fair distribution of natural resources are key elements to be considered in urban planning.

To reconcile continuing development with environmental limits mankind must choose certain types of development rather than others. Efficiency has meanings beyond maximizing the economic output of each human being. Quantity of goods should be replaced with quality of life. Environmental protection is closely connected to social equity.

Natural building materials. Natural building has emerged as a response to an increasing concern for our built environment. Natural materials can provide an alternative to toxic substances which have led to widespread environmental illness.

While interest has surged in the industrialized West, the ancient roots of natural building are being lost in many traditional areas. Ironically, builders in the industrialized countries are now turning to these very cultures for solutions to their building problems. It is to be hoped that increased interest and research into vernacular building systems will increase respect for these timeless ideas in their native lands, and through diligent efforts by a number of people, many of these techniques are indeed being revived, studied and implemented throughout the world.

Many of the European city problems could be resolved by paying greater attention to the environment. Architecture and urban planning based on environmental preservations are the only option for maintaining quality of life and preventing lasting environmental damage.

Pollution reduction, waste minimization and energy conservation can be furthered through environmentally friendly urban design and construction. Awareness of these issues and information on possible opportunities existing worldwide are vital to the development of new scopes in restructuring urban and agricultural areas, as well as human settlements in general.

Bio-architecture links the appreciation of the environment and biodiversity with urban design and planning. Bio-architecture also promotes the used of materials and techniques, which are environmentally sound, culturally sensitive and reliant on local resources and skills.

A “Biopolis” functions as a model for the harmonious co-evolution of humanity with the bio-environment. It is based on the application of clean energy sources (solar, wind, hydrogen, etc.), cleaner production and environmentally friendly materials, and protection of bios aims at creating a self-sufficient, aesthetically pleasing urban environment with an active participation of every member of society in the conservation of nature.

Notes on the text

to reconcile continuing development with environmental limits – чтобы совместить непрерывное развитие с возможностями окружающей среды

can provide an alternative – могут стать альтернативой

 

TEXT EXERCISES

 

3. Give the Russian equivalents to the following word-groups. Memorize these word-groups:

 

environmental protection, urban management, environmental threshhold, the adoption of the precautionary principle, environmentally compatible, distribution of natural resources, timeless ideas, to pay greater attention, environmental preservations, to maintain quality of life, to prevent environmental damage, pollution reduction, waste minimization, energy conservation, environmentally friendly urban design

 

4. Say whether the following sentences are true or false. Correct the wrong statements:

 

1. The environmental protection brings together social, economic, moral and political considerations.

2. Reducing the use of natural resources, increasing durability and closing resource loops will contribute to long-range environmentally compatible urban management.

3. Multiple use and social and economic diversity, as well as fair distribution of artificial resources are key elements to be considered in urban planning.

4. To reconcile continuing destruction with environmental limits mankind must choose certain types of development rather than others.

5. Quality of goods should be replaced with quantity of life. Environmental protection is closely connected to social equity.

6. Natural building has emerged as a response to an increasing concern for our built environment.