Discuss the view that urbanisation in both the developed and the developing world is unsustainable
Discuss the view that urbanisation in both the developed and the developing world is unsustainable (40marks)
Urbanisation is the process in which people move from a rural area to an urban area. Levels of urbanisation are determined by looking at both the population of rural and urban areas. For the first time ever in history more people live in urban areas than in rural areas. This movement shows no sign of stopping with a predicted 1.84% increase in people living in urban areas expected between 2015 and 2020. And this disparity in rural-urban growth can be a really damaging element if the urban areas of a country aren’t prepared for the influx of people.
This imbalance can certainly lead to unsustainability; not just in the developing world but also in the developed world.
When speaking of the developed world and the developing world, we too often think of LEDCs and MEDCs however it is true now more than ever that the boundaries between categories are blurred. There are the extreme opposites of LDCs and MDCs and then the vague limbo of NICs and RICs. To potentially confuse this further there are countries in a Venn diagram like structure of being in multiple categories like those in OPEC or the G8. However for the sake of comparing the developed and developing world it is more beneficial to consider countries as MEDCs i.e. developed, or LEDCs i.e. developing.
The idea of sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of today's population without compromising the needs of future generations. This means a combination of environmental, social and economic sustainability. When development includes social, economic and environmental aspects then it is said to be sustainable.
Despite the wealth that developed nations have, they can still struggle with the strains of urbanisation. There are examples of this throughout Europe. When urban settlers first arrived on mass they were from the rural areas and arrived with limited experience in the fields of work that were
Urbanisation is the process in which people move from a rural area to an urban area. Levels of urbanisation are determined by looking at both the population of rural and urban areas. For the first time ever in history more people live in urban areas than in rural areas. This movement shows no sign of stopping with a predicted 1.84% increase in people living in urban areas expected between 2015 and 2020. And this disparity in rural-urban growth can be a really damaging element if the urban areas of a country aren’t prepared for the influx of people.
This imbalance can certainly lead to unsustainability; not just in the developing world but also in the developed world.
When speaking of the developed world and the developing world, we too often think of LEDCs and MEDCs however it is true now more than ever that the boundaries between categories are blurred. There are the extreme opposites of LDCs and MDCs and then the vague limbo of NICs and RICs. To potentially confuse this further there are countries in a Venn diagram like structure of being in multiple categories like those in OPEC or the G8. However for the sake of comparing the developed and developing world it is more beneficial to consider countries as MEDCs i.e. developed, or LEDCs i.e. developing.
The idea of sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of today's population without compromising the needs of future generations. This means a combination of environmental, social and economic sustainability. When development includes social, economic and environmental aspects then it is said to be sustainable.
Despite the wealth that developed nations have, they can still struggle with the strains of urbanisation. There are examples of this throughout Europe. When urban settlers first arrived on mass they were from the rural areas and arrived with limited experience in the fields of work that were