Our Environment Contents

2. Impacts

Urbanisation

Mexico City

A city brings together materials originating over a wide area and concentrates their use within a very small space. Much of the organic waste produced in nature is dispersed and recycled through natural pathways in the environment. However, in urban areas, there is so much being produced in a relatively small space that natural assimilation alone cannot cope. Technological solutions have gradually been implemented, but much remains to be done on a world wide scale.

The UN projects that by 2050, nearly 68% of the global population will live in urban areas (UN, 2011).

What sorts of environmental problems are characteristically associated with urbanisation?