Population and Environmental Issues in Mega-cities Analysis

This essay examines the significant population and environmental challenges prevalent in mega-cities worldwide. It identifies population growth as a primary issue, leading to strained resources and inadequate services. The essay highlights air pollution from industrialization and traffic congestion due to increased vehicles, both contributing to health risks and environmental degradation. Housing inadequacy, sanitation problems, and waste management are also discussed, emphasizing the lack of access to basic services and the resulting health and environmental consequences. Additionally, it addresses security concerns, such as terror attacks and robbery, and unemployment as major issues in mega-cities. The essay concludes by referencing several studies that support the discussed challenges, providing a comprehensive overview of the complex issues faced by these urban centers.

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Key Population and Environmental Challenges and Issues in Mega-cities
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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.1 The 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.2 Industrialization 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.4 The 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

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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.5 The 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.6 Individuals, 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.7 The 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.8 Notably, 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.

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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.