Urbanisation, the process by which rural communities develop into cities, has shaped civilizations for thousands of years. As early as 7500 BCE, urban centres began to form between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in Mesopotamia, marking the origins of urbanisation. This pattern of settlement along waterways was also seen in other regions, such as along the Nile River in Egypt.
There are two primary reasons for the emergence of cities in these areas.
Settling near waterways provided efficient transportation networks that facilitated trade and communication between communities
Fertile arable land surrounding these rivers enabled the production of crops and food surplus, allowing people to cultivate livestock and establish permanent settlements
Urbanisation has become a catalyst for societal growth and development, fundamentally transforming the way humans lived and interacted. In this article, we will explore the causes of urbanisation, environmental impacts of urbanisation.
Causes of Urbanisation
The urban population has been rising steadily, from about 1 billion in 1960 to more than 4 billion in 2021, compared to the rural population, which had a minimal rise after the 2000s. A significant cause of this is rural-urban migration, made of push factors (causes that result in people leaving rural areas) and pull factors (causes that attract people to urban areas). The infographic below summarises the push and pull factors.
Environmental Impacts of Urbanisation
1) Natural habitat loss
Urban expansion often involves deforestation, which results in the destruction of natural habitats for various species. This habitat loss decreases the population of flora and fauna, potentially leading to extinction. Furthermore, it disrupts ecological interactions and reduces biodiversity, impacting the overall health and resilience of ecosystems.
2) Increased resource consumption
Rapid urban population growth leads to an exponential rise in the demand for essential resources such as water, food, and energy. This increased consumption puts significant pressure on finite natural resources, often resulting in their overexploitation. For example, the reliance on fossil fuels like oil to meet energy demands contributes to environmental degradation and climate change.
3) Significant waste generation
As urban populations grow, so does the volume of waste produced, including solid waste, wastewater, and air pollution. Inadequate waste management practices can lead to environmental pollution, posing severe threats to human health, ecosystems, and overall quality of life. Moreover, waste accumulation in landfills contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating climate change.
4) Urban heat island effect
The widespread use of dark-coloured materials like asphalt in urban infrastructure increases the absorption of sunlight, resulting in higher regional temperatures compared to surrounding rural areas. This phenomenon, known as the urban heat island effect, can lead to increased energy consumption for cooling.
How can we mitigate environmental degradation?
1) Urban planning & design strategies
Governments can incorporate green infrastructure like vertical gardens and rooftop gardens in buildings. This increases the number of green spaces, promotes biodiversity and reduces urban heat island effects. An example of a famous vertical garden is the “Supertrees” at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. They aid is absorbing heat and providing a habitat for birds and insects.
2) Policy & regulatory measures
Governments can implement laws and regulations to reduce carbon emissions in cities, protect ecosystems, and promote sustainable development practices. An instance of this is the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which sets a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and allows companies to trade emission allowances, encouraging emission reduction.
Governments can also establish green building codes and standards to encourage energy efficiency, waste management, and water conservation in construction. One such system that has been implemented is the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which is a globally recognised green building rating system that encourages sustainable building practices.
3) Community engagement & education
Communities in cities can be engaged in environmental decision-making processes, encouraging public participation in local sustainability efforts. One such initiative is the 'Citizen Science' projects that empower citizens to participate in scientific research, helping to gather valuable data for environmental management and conservation efforts.
4) Technological innovations & solutions
Corporations can be incentivised to invest in emerging technologies that help mitigate environmental degradation in cities, such as carbon capture, storage, and utilisation (CCUS), like Climeworks, a Swiss company, that has developed modular carbon capture plants that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the environmental impacts of urbanisation, such as habitat loss, resource depletion, waste generation, and the urban heat island effect, necessitate immediate attention and action. Addressing these challenges is crucial for ensuring sustainable development. Striking a balance between urbanisation and environmental conservation requires innovative urban planning, effective policy measures, public engagement and technological advancements. By adopting a holistic approach, we can create a more sustainable future where urban growth and environmental well-being coexist harmoniously, especially as the urban population continues to grow.
Works Cited
Blain, Loz. “In Pictures: Singapore’s Surreal Supertree Grove and Cloud Forest.” New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2014, newatlas.com/singapore-gardens-by-the-bay-supertree-cloud-forest/33590/.
National Geographic. “The History of Cities | National Geographic Society.” Education.nationalgeographic.org, 2 June 2022, education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/history-cities/.
Ritchie, Hannah, et al. “Urbanization.” Our World in Data, Sept. 2018, ourworldindata.org/urbanization.
The open university. “Study Session 5 Urbanisation: Trends, Causes and Effects: View as Single Page.” Open.edu, 2019, www.open.edu/openlearncreate/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=79940&printable=1.
“Urbanization.” Understanding Global Change, 2023, ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/urbanization.
“What Causes Urbanisation?” Internet Geography, 2023, www.internetgeography.net/topics/what-causes-urbanisation/.
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