Other contemporary urban environmental issues

• AIR POLLUTION - what is a problem that occurs in urban areas?

  air pollution
• AIR POLLUTION - what is happening in developed countries?

  reliance on fossil fuels is decreasing and use of less polluting energy sources is increasing
• AIR POLLUTION - what is improving in cities?

  air quality has improved since 1950s
• AIR POLLUTION - what is increasing in cities thats causing air pollution?

  car ownership is increasing and congestion can cause significant atmospheric pollution
• AIR POLLUTION - what do many developing countries and emerging economies still on?

  fossil fuels to meet their energy needs
• AIR POLLUTION - why is atmospheric pollution so severe?

  increases in industrial activity, car ownership combined with lack of regulations increases pollution
• AIR POLLUTION - what strategies are present in developed countries to limit air pollution?

  promoting green modes of transport such as cycling and expanding green spaces in urban areas
• AIR POLLUTION - what progress has been made in the developing world to reduce air pollution?

  most countries have phased out the use of leaded petrol however progress is slow
• WATER POLLUTION - what is the con associated with a high population density?


  lots of waste including wastewater and sewage as well as oils and metals found on road surfaces
• WATER POLLUTION - where do these pollutants go?

  they can enter the watercourses if sewers are inadequate or in runoff when it rains
• WATER POLLUTION - what does a high concentration of factories in cities lead to?


  they may discharge industrial waste into watercourses
• WATER POLLUTION - what problems can it lead to?

  damage to ecosystems and contaminated drinking water can cause health problems
• WATER POLLUTION - how can it be managed?

  managed through laws to stop discharge of untreated waste from industries and provision of plants to treat wastewater
• WATER POLLUTION - what other strategies can help?

  catchment management and SUDs
• WATER POLLUTION - what are there strict regulations about in developed countries?

  regulations about discharge of untreated water and water quality is monitored
• WATER POLLUTION - what else can cause pollution?


  litter thats been dropped in or around water and pollutants in surface runoff
• WATER POLLUTION - what is there few of in developing countries and emerging economies?


  few regulations and inadequate provision of treatment facilities
• WATER POLLUTION - what does few regulations and inadequate provision of treatment facilities lead to in developing countries?

  untreated industrial waste and sewage often enters watercourses and water pollution is common
• URBAN DERELICTION - when does it happen?

  when economic activity in urban areas decline and buildings become run down
• URBAN DERELICTION - what causes industrial decline?

  the movement of manufacturing overseas and the decentralisation of industry
• URBAN DERELICTION - what may many people do due to the industrial decline?

  many leave urban areas in search of work
• URBAN DERELICTION - what happens if lots of people leave the area?

  shops may be forced to close and services go into decline
• URBAN DERELICTION - what happens as industry, people and services move out?

  they leave behind empty buildings (factories, homes and shops)
• URBAN DERELICTION - what do empty buildings and derelict areas often have problems with?

  vandalism. graffiti and crime
• URBAN DERELICTION - where is it most common?

  in developed countries where widespread deindustrialisation has occurred
• STRATEGIES TO MANAGE URBAN DERELICTION - what are former factories redeveloped into?


  into commercial and residential properties
• STRATEGIES TO MANAGE URBAN DERELICTION - where is new housing constructed?

  in derelict areas
• STRATEGIES TO MANAGE URBAN DERELICTION - what is created?

  green spaces such as parks
• STRATEGIES TO MANAGE URBAN DERELICTION - what hinders the management of urban dereliction?

  some cities lack investment and large areas remain derelict - detroit
• Why is atmospheric pollution bad

  Reduces visibility, produces acid rain, contributes to climate change
• causes of atmospheric pollution

  • car ownership increasing
  • heating and cooking
  • industry
  • fires
• 99% of the population breathe high levels of pollutants
• why is atmospheric pollution so bad

  lack of regulation
• atmospheric pollution costs £1.4-3.7 billion to health services in london
• there are 7 million premature deaths per year - 89% of these are in LICs and NEEs
• ways to reduce atmospheric pollution

  • green modes of transport
  • urban planning
  • clean technology
  • low emissions
• water is the most essential resource and promotes human health and poverty reduction
• How does water pollution occur?

  • industrial effluent e.g. acid drainage
  • domestic uses e.g. kitches
  • runoff from roads
  • agriculture e.g. pesticides
  • leachates from poorly managed landfill
• why is water pollution worse in LICs and NEEs

  they have few regulations and illegal dumoping into waterways is still an issue
• why is water pollution less of an issue in HICs

  they tend to have strict regulation regarding the monitoring and discharge of untreated water