“The end of the “wilderness.” In every region of the globe, erstwhile “wilderness” spaces are being transformed and degraded through the cumulative socio-ecological consequences of unfettered worldwide urbanization.”
– Neil Brenner & Christian Schmid’s Planetary Urbanization from Implosions and Explosions (2013), p.65
source: Pinterest
edited by author
Earth, An Urban Organism
Planetary urbanization challenges the idea that human activity can be isolated within cities or regions. Drawing inferences from The Gaia Theory reminds us that Earth functions as one interconnected organism, where each part—from oceans to forests to human settlements—plays a role in maintaining balance. When we look at urbanization as merely a series of expanding cities, we ignore the scale of our impact. Human-led urbanization extends far beyond any cartographic boundaries of cities or states. Urban expansion, population densification and gentrification are not isolated events; they are part of a continuous process reshaping the planet’s systems. Its effects ripple outward, affecting ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate across the globe.
A Concrete Galaxy
The “loss of wilderness” has a profound effect on biodiversity and ecosystem services, which are vital for all people, whether urban or rural. This highlights the need for a shift in perspective: urbanization should be seen as a global “process.” The metaphor of an “urban galaxy” is fitting, as, just like galaxies bound by gravity, these varied spaces are interconnected through social, economic, and environmental forces. This awareness can help us reshape our approach: not only through academic research but by involving people from all disciplines and backgrounds. The goal? To recognize urbanization as an umbrella process that touches every facet of life, calling for a collective re-imagining of our planet as a single shared urban fabric.
The planet’s urban future and development is inevitable, and this reality must drive how we define, study, and address urbanization today.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GAIA THEORY : Earth functions as a single, self regulating organism, with each component (flora, fauna, climate, etc.) contributing to a balanced system.
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES : Ecosystem services are the natural processes that sustain life, including clean air, water filtration, and pollination
URBAN FABRIC : the interconnected and collective nature of urbanization, where social, economic, and environmental forces shape a unified, global structure
MICRO-ESSAY / CLASS 6 On Neil Brenner & Christian Schmid’s Planetary Urbanization from Implosions and Explosions (2013)
