GEOG 106 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Urban Metabolism, Gil J Wolman, Urban Ecology
Document Summary
Marx introduced the concept of metabolism to describe societies and economies. Human transformation of nature through labour and. With urbanization, a metabolic rift can be described in terms of: Ecological disruption of nutrient cycling where resources go from a cyclical system to a. A disconnect between the resources used by humans and the products that are consumed. The role of wilderness is a heaven" next to dark satanic mills" of the city. Beautify (make beautiful) nature for the city. City growth = progress, country as backdrop" gradually being converted to outer ring. Growth of the city in social terms. Wolman (1965): planet cannot assimilate without the limit the untreated wastes of civilization . Inputs and outputs create conversion of nature into society. It is adopted by urban sustainability measuring co2 emissions, fuel, water, heat days, etc. Hybrid of political ecology and urban geography. Social worlds are constructed on natural foundations, and subject to natural constraints.
