CGP Urban Environmental Issues

• Urban areas have issues with air pollution, water pollution and dereliction
• There are loads of ways to fix these urban environmental problems
• Atmospheric pollution in urban areas

  1. Reliance on fossil fuels is decreasing, and use of less-polluting energy sources is increasing

  2. Car ownership is increasing, and congestion can cause significant atmospheric pollution
• Many developing countries and emerging economies will rely heavily on fossil fuels to meet their energy needs, leading to severe atmospheric pollution
• Strategies to limit air pollution in developed countries

  1. Promoting green modes of transport, eg cycling

  2. Expanding green spaces in urban centres
• In the developing world, there has been slow progress towards reducing urban air pollution
• Water pollution


  Caused by high population density producing a lot of waste, including wastewater, sewage, oil and metals from cars
• Water pollution

  Can cause damage to ecosystems and health problems like dysentery and cholera
• Managing water pollution

  1. Laws to stop discharge of untreated waste from industries

  2. Provision of plants to treat wastewater

  3. Catchment management and SUDS
• In developed countries, there are strict regulations about discharge of untreated water and water quality is monitored, but litter and pollutants in surface runoff still cause pollution
• In many developing countries and emerging economies, there are few regulations and inadequate provision of treatment facilities, leading to common water pollution
• Urban dereliction


  Happens when economic activity in urban areas declines and buildings become run down
• Causes of urban dereliction

  1. Movement of manufacturing overseas

  2. Decentralisation of industry

  3. People leaving urban areas in search of work

  4. Shops and services going into decline
• Urban dereliction is more common in developed countries where widespread deindustrialisation has occurred
• Strategies to manage urban dereliction

  1. Redevelopment of former factories into commercial and residential properties

  2. Construction of new housing in derelict areas

  3. Creation of green spaces, eg parks
• Some cities lack investment and large areas remain derelict, eg Detroit
• Bangkok has high levels of air pollution, water pollution and dereliction due to lack of regulation and poor planning
• The government in Bangkok has taken steps to reduce air pollution, including improvement to public transport and fines for high vehicle emissions
• Water pollution is severe in Bangkok due to poor sewage systems and ineffective waste management
• Dereliction in Bangkok has been reduced by economic growth since 2010 and incentives for foreign investment
• Manchester has overcome many environmental issues through deindustrialisation and strategies to improve the urban environment
• Strategies to reduce air pollution in Manchester

  1. Closure of factories and better management of air quality

  2. Improving bus services, constructing cycle paths and expanding pedestrian walkways
• Strategies to reduce water pollution in Manchester

  1. Cleaning up the River Irwell and Manchester Ship Canal

  2. Installing SUDS to reduce pollution from surface runoff
• Strategies to reduce dereliction in Manchester

  1. Redevelopment of former mills and factories into luxury flats

  2. Improving open spaces

  3. Funding new businesses
• The population of Manchester city centre nearly tripled from 2001 to 2011