2 Population and Environmental Challenges and Issues in Mega-cities Population growth and environmental issues, as well as challenges, cause a lot of threat in many mega-cities across the world. Firstly, the huge population has become a significant issue in these cities. Most of the mega-cities across the world have a colossal population of around fifteen million persons, with more people arriving every year from the rural regions seeking better living standards and social amenities.1The enlarging or swelling populace makes the cities to strain in providing some of the basic services due to the availability of limited resources. Secondly, the megacities face a problem of air pollution.2Industrialization has been found to be the major sources of air pollution in these mega-cities. The air pollution manifests itself as a result of toxic gases released by manufacturing industries. The factories and mills generate polluted smoke that endangers the lives of individuals and environment.3 Industrialization also results in climate change which often leads to the global warming effect which is felt all over the world. The climate change comes as a result of emission of harmful gases such as carbon (II) Oxide into the atmosphere leading to greenhouse effect and acid rain. Thirdly, traffic congestion has also become a major issue in the megacities due to the increased number of vehicles.4The number of motorcars in the mega-cities has become unattainable as results of few roads. The traffic snarl-ups or congestion lead to a delay of essential services which ought to be provided via roads. The vehicles as well as pollute the environment by emitting harmful gases into the air. It is important to note the toxic gases also pollutes the air inhaled by people and this can result in contraction of respiratory diseases such as asthma, tuberculosis, and cardiovascular disease among others. Fourthly, the mega-cities are engulfed with the problem of housing inadequacy. They are unable to accommodate the huge populations. In this regards many people live in slums or
3 shanties under very pathetic conditions and environment. Poor housing has led to poor living standards and health. Subsequently, the megacities face a problem of sanitation. Sanitation in most of these mega-cities is correspondingly severe. Most of the sewage in these are untreated and are left to percolate or leak into the ground as well as waterway causing water pollutions.5The cities are also engulfed with hanging latrines that directly dump wastes into waterways resulting in water and environmental pollution as well. Many of the people who live in the mega-cities especially those who reside in the shanties lack access to some of the basic services including clean water supplies.6Individuals, therefore, are enforced to depend on unsafe water offered by the slums’ lords. Similarly, the mega cities face a problem of garbage which exists as a result of the city dwellers leaving the refuse anyhow creating a stinking environment.7The garbage pollutes the environment and leads to different kinds of diseases. Another problem experienced by the cities is security issues, for example, terror attacks and robbery.8Notably, this risks the lives of people making them live in fear. Many people are robbed out of their properties in these cities and some even end up losing their lives as a result of the robbery acts. Lastly, unemployment is also a great problem in the mega-cities with a significant portion of the populace lacking jobs. Lack of jobs may result in social evils such as robbery.
4 References List 1.Wei Y, Huang C, Li J, Xie L. An evaluation model for urban carrying capacity: A case study of China's mega-cities. Habitat International. 2016 Apr 1;53:87-96. 2.Chen S, Chen B, Fath BD. Urban ecosystem modeling and global change: potential for rational urban management and emissions mitigation. Environmental pollution. 2014 Jul 1;190:139-49. 3.Van Ginkel HJ, Marcotullio PJ. Asian urbanization and local and global environmental challenges. InManaging Urban Futures 2016 Dec 5 (pp. 27-52). Routledge. 4.Singh, R. B. (Ed.). (2015). Urban development challenges, risks and resilience in asian mega cities. Springer. 5.Ezeh A, Oyebode O, Satterthwaite D, Chen YF, Ndugwa R, Sartori J, Mberu B, Melendez-Torres GJ, Haregu T, Watson SI, Caiaffa W. The history, geography, and sociology of slums and the health problems of people who live in slums. The lancet. 2017 Feb 4;389(10068):547-58. 6.Harper C, Harper CL, Snowden M. Environment and society: Human perspectives on environmental issues. Routledge; 2017 Mar 13.(pp.34-46) 7.Li, E., Endter‐Wada, J., & Li, S. (2015). Characterizing and contextualizing the water challenges of megacities. JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 51(3), 589-613. 8.Goldstone JA. Demography, environment, and security. InEnvironmental conflict 2018 Mar 5 (pp. 84-108). Routledge.