So, while the idea of environmental protection is clearly an important concept, in an urban setting where many of the natural systems have been permanently altered or eliminated entirely, a more relevant one may be that of environmental change. One answer is that environmental change can be directly linked to quality of life. Environmental change in an urban setting results in either a positive or negative change in our quality of life. By considering evidence of change, we may be able to draw some conclusions about the quality of life in an urban setting. Urban change is a continual process, though the degree of change may vary from community to community.
Franklin County is in the midst of very rapid urban change.
With approximately 1 million people, low unemployment, a growing economy and significant development both inside and around Columbus, there is no shortage of urban change examples. However, it's difficult to select examples that universally reflect change in quality of life. For most of us, our ideas about quality of life are based on emotional responses to a variety of factors in our daily lives. People may have very different ideas about the factors that determine their quality of life, and their emotional responses to these factors can be different, as well. Urban change is driven by changing demographics and how people use and develop the land around them.