This is one of the conclusions of a recent study on population density in the country, whose authors say only by curbing population growth and using land more efficiently can Israel hope to slow the transformation of open spaces into roads and buildings.
By prioritizing speed and efficiency over accessibility, the popular urban planning model neglects the mobility needs of those who can’t afford to live in dense neighborhoods.
Despite ample evidence that urbanites live longer and healthier lives than their counterparts in rural areas, the spread of the coronavirus - and New York City's tragic experience in particular - has fueled a dubious association between population density and contagion.
Increasing urban density, population growth, and coastal development, coupled with rising sea levels, will "substantially impact the shape of the world's coastline," the scientists write.
