Linus Freidman: Sustainability for our Cities
Linus Friedman is an undergraduate senior at the University of Arizona who will soon be receiving a bachelor’s degree in German studies and sustainable built environments with an emphasis in sustainable communities. Despite coming to U of A from Pittsburgh, PA, Friedman's passion for urban planning and sustainability has involved him in various efforts both on campus and in the Tucson community.
Could you please introduce yourself – year in school, major, and anything else you’d like to share?
Hello! My name is Linus Friedman. I’m a senior undergraduate student majoring in Sustainable Built Environments and German Studies. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved out to Tucson for college. Last academic year, I was lucky enough to study in Kassel, Germany, where I was able to see sustainability from a German perspective and in practice. In my free time, I’m often hiking, exploring new neighborhoods, reading, or spending time with friends and family.
How have you been involved in environmental or other activities as a student at the University of Arizona?
When it comes to environmental involvement, I have tried my best to always pursue opportunities as they come up. Currently, I am interning with Living Streets Alliance, a local transportation and community-focused nonprofit that puts on the twice-yearly Cyclovia event and advocates for streets as living public spaces to be used by all residents, no matter their form of transportation. Additionally, two years ago, I worked with a few classmates to start Students for Sustainable Cities, a club focused on creating connections between students and getting out in the community doing projects relating to sustainability in the built environment. I’ve found that at its most basic level, just having a group chat of people with shared values can act as a catalyst for advocacy, projects, or events.
Creating a better city is a social and humanistic endeavor; it is the people that make up a city after all. Creating something that works better for all residents requires collaboration, cooperation, and at its very core, social connection within a community.
-Linus Friedman, Senior
How do you hope to incorporate environmental or sustainability values into your future career goals (if at all)?
Sustainability values will be a core aspect of my future career goals. I hope to get involved with transportation planning, with a focus on active transportation like cycling or walking. The clearest link to sustainability is most obviously that active forms of transportation are better for the environment compared to the United States’ car-centric culture. Yet, in the long run, investing in active transportation additionally improves the economic and social aspects of sustainability, improving city finances and increasing positive interaction between citizens. No matter where I end up professionally, I know I will critically think about the work I am doing with sustainability in mind.
Are there any specific aspects of sustainability, the environment, or resilience that you are particularly passionate about?
As has been alluded to, urban planning is my main passion when it comes to sustainability. Particularly, I am interested in how it is often the intersection of many topics I care about, such as the environment, social issues, public health, design, affordability, and transportation. Resilience and designing our cities to be resilient, is also a major topic within the profession and something I hope to be cognizant of in my future work.
How vital do you believe Urbanism/Urban Planning to be for creating an environmentally sustainable society?
While I am biased, I believe that urban planning is highly necessary for creating a society that is environmentally sustainable. Leaving out urban planning and only focusing on topics like wildfire reduction or endangered species protection feels like missing the elephant in the room: humans and how we live. Denser, car-light living is simply better for the environment. At first glance, the concrete jungles of cities may seem like the least environmentally friendly places, yet the alternative of suburban communities spreading endlessly and disturbing wildlife in the Sonoran Desert is much worse.
A vast amount of our carbon emissions as humans is the result of transportation and buildings. I believe that any methods we can utilize to reduce those emissions, whether that be building missing middle housing, utilizing LEED Standards, or adding bike lanes, can go a long way. Like reducing overconsumption, ending food waste, or investing in renewable energy, I believe urban planning is a vital piece of the puzzle for creating a more environmentally sustainable world.
How do you think students who aren't explicitly involved in your field with their careers can most effectively get involved in the movement to improve our cities?
Improving our cities is most definitely not something reserved for those professionals working in the field. In fact, some of the most inspiring advocates I know are people with unrelated backgrounds or day jobs have nonetheless put in the effort to become informed and advocate for change. Urban planning is meant to be a public process, as demonstrated by public meetings that are explicitly required by law leading up to new residential development, zoning changes, or road alterations.
There are all types of specific actions students can take to improve their cities, ranging from little to no effort to heavily involved projects. Using the power to vote for or against both politicians and ballot measures is an amazing place to start. Additionally, small changes can catalyze bigger changes. Something as simple as meeting up with neighbors to pick up trash or clear an overgrown sidewalk can lead to conversations about dangerous streets or an underutilized park. Volunteering on citizens' advisory committees or with nonprofits is another avenue to get involved. In the end, creating a better city is a social and humanistic endeavor; it is the people that make up a city after all. Creating something that works better for all residents requires collaboration, cooperation, and at its very core, social connection within a community.