By Michaela Cleary, World News Editor
Over the past decade, Pasco County has seen a significant increase in housing developments, shopping centers, and restaurants.
Although there are many benefits to this new growth, there are equally, if not more, consequences to consider regarding sustainability and conservation.
The issue of sustainability has been discussed for decades when it comes to progress growth, especially within the environmentalist community.
According to the Department of Energy, “Sustainability means to create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can exist in.”
Unfortunately, proper measures are not always taken when many new projects are built. This causes a significant decrease in air and water quality and the unnecessary destruction of many local ecosystems and habitats.
Suitability is only sometimes something prioritized or considered when new projects arise. This is a huge problem, especially in Pasco County.
According to the last United States census, Pasco County was the 11th largest city in Florida, with 591,048 residents. As Pasco’s population booms, additional construction is required.
Many argue that these new developments allow for more job opportunities and resources. This, of course, is true, which is a positive aspect of development. Most people would agree that they enjoy the conveniences that new construction provides. However, it is essential to recognize that many additional factors must be considered for progress growth.
In 2015, the Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center opened. This was met with a lot of mixed reviews, as the building of this mall required developers to destroy the habitat of many threatened gopher tortoises.
Sustainability is important in the eyes of young adults, too. Global warming and carbon footprints have been increasingly noteworthy for the younger generation.
Janet Segovia, a senior majoring in criminal justice at Saint Leo University, expressed, “Sustainability is vital, and developers should factor it in before starting construction. Creating new corporations to improve Pasco County provides essential things to the community, which is important. But they must be conscious of the locations they decide to build, given that there may be habitats or other things already there.”
Furthermore, Kelly Arias, a sophomore majoring in ecology, shared her thoughts on sustainability.
“The beautiful natural landscape is a key feature of our home in Pasco County, and we must take steps to ensure it remains healthy for future generations to enjoy. Sustainable environmental practices will help us do just that.”
We can maintain sustainability and be more environmentally conscious with these new developments in many ways.
The Zeitz Foundation, an organization that focuses on achieving ambitious standards in sustainability and balance, created a developmental philosophy that describes the specific ways we, as people, can help maintain and promote sustainability and conservation. According to the foundation, there are “4 Cs” of sustainability.
These include conservation, community, culture, and commerce. Conservation means to preserve and maintain the natural state of the environment. Community refers to developing with a conscious outlook. Culture refers to maintaining the rich heritage of an area. Lastly, commerce means creating products in-house to sell and distribute. This promotes a sustainable economy. Each of these methods is equally important in conservation and environmental sustainability.
Progress growth is not harmful. However, many important things must be considered to ensure equality and sustainability are maintained. By following these separate ways to support sustainability, we can build a stronger community that is more conscious of the future of Pasco County.
