Consequences: Megacities and the DG Flashcards
Deprivation
Urban poor face many hardships such as:
1) limited employment opportunities.
2) reliance on the informal sector.
3) inadequate, insecure housing.
4) violent and unhealthy environments.
5) Little or no social protection.
6) limited access to health.
7) limited access to credit facilities.
Housing
As cities grow, the cost of meeting basic needs such as housing, infrastructure and services increases, as does pressure on the environment. New migrants often have little money so they cannot get a home. Land and housing regulations make it difficult for poor people, as a result they may make makeshift homes.
Environment
Cities in developing countries are affected by the ‘brown agenda’ associated with economic development.
It has two components…
1) environment health issues linked to limited availability of good-quality land, shelter and services such as clean water.
2) problems resulting from rapid industrialisation, such as toxic or hazardous waste; water, air and noise pollution.
Environment - ‘green agenda’
Focuses on the impact of development on the natural environment, while the ‘blue agenda’ looks at water quality and supply. For example it is estimated that in 2000 the mega city Shanghai had about 15,000 cases of chronic bronchitis and 7,200 deaths associated with PM10s.
CASE STUDY: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Likely to have a population of 21 million by 2015 and a population density of 20,000 people per km^2. Its rapid growth is due to high rates of natural increase and large volumes of migration from rural areas due to insufficient job prospects in villages.
Dhaka challenges - employment
Strong growth in manufacturing, finance, telecommunications and services. It is home to 80% of garment industry’s 2 million employees and also attracts migrants. Unemployment remains high at 23%
33% of the city’s workforce is self-employed, mostly men. Child labour is high in poorer households.
Dhaka challenges - urban poor
Residential land too expensive for urban poor to buy - 28% of population classified as poor, 12% extremely poor, only 5% live in permanent housing. Many migrants end up in crowded slums. About 4.2m people live in slums, slums controlled by gangs. Only 58% of 6-7 year olds in slums went to school.
Dhaka challenges - environmental quality
Air pollution due to unregulated expansion and ineffective regulations exceed national standards on more than 100 days a year.
Most poor people lack clean water and sanitation. Only 27% of people are connected to public sewer systems. Poor management of water resources in Dhaka is estimated to cosy 670 million US dollars annually.
