Changing Towns and Cities » Urban Growth Challenges

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The causes and patterns of rapid urban growth in developing countries
Key challenges faced by rapidly growing urban areas
Housing issues and the development of informal settlements
Traffic congestion and transport problems
Water supply, sanitation and waste management challenges
Case studies of urban growth challenges in Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro

Urban Growth Challenges in Developing Countries

Cities in developing countries are growing at an incredible speed. While it took London 130 years to grow from 1 to 8 million people, cities like Lagos in Nigeria have done this in just 25 years! This rapid growth creates massive challenges for city authorities trying to provide basic services and infrastructure.

Key Definitions:

Urbanisation: The increasing percentage of people living in towns and cities.
Rural-urban migration: The movement of people from rural areas to urban areas.
Natural increase: When birth rates exceed death rates in a population.
Informal settlements: Areas where houses have been built on land that the occupants do not legally own (also called squatter settlements or slums).

Causes of Rapid Urban Growth

🏠 Push Factors

These are the things that drive people away from rural areas:

Lack of jobs and low pay in farming
Poor access to education and healthcare
Natural disasters like droughts or floods
Land shortages as population grows
Conflict and political instability

🌃 Pull Factors

These are the things that attract people to cities:

More job opportunities and higher wages
Better schools, universities and hospitals
Better infrastructure and services
More entertainment options
The chance for a 'better life'

Key Challenges of Rapid Urban Growth

When cities grow too quickly, they face several major problems:

1. Housing Shortages and Informal Settlements

When thousands of people arrive in a city each day, there simply isn't enough affordable housing. This leads to the growth of informal settlements, where people build their own homes on land they don't own.

Case Study Focus: Dharavi, Mumbai

Dharavi is one of Asia's largest slums, housing around 1 million people in just 2.1 square kilometres. Despite difficult conditions, it's a hub of small-scale industry with an estimated annual output of $1 billion. Residents face challenges including:

Overcrowding with 5-6 people typically sharing a single room
Limited access to clean water and toilets
Poor sanitation leading to disease outbreaks
Risk of eviction as the land becomes more valuable

2. Traffic Congestion and Transport Problems

As cities grow, roads become clogged with vehicles. Many developing world cities lack good public transport systems and road networks can't cope with increasing numbers of cars.

🚗 Traffic Issues

Traffic jams waste time and fuel, increase pollution and slow down emergency services.

💨 Air Pollution

Vehicle emissions cause respiratory problems and contribute to climate change.

💵 Economic Impact

Congestion costs cities billions in lost productivity and wasted fuel.

3. Water Supply and Sanitation

Providing clean water and dealing with sewage are huge challenges in rapidly growing cities. Many informal settlements have no piped water or sewage systems.

Key problems include:

Limited access to clean drinking water
Contamination of water sources by sewage
Waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid
Flooding during rainy seasons due to blocked drains

4. Waste Management

Cities generate enormous amounts of waste and many developing countries lack effective collection and disposal systems.

🚮 Waste Problems

Uncollected rubbish piles up in streets
Open dumps create health hazards
Waste blocks drainage systems
Toxic waste contaminates soil and water

♻ Informal Recycling

In many cities, waste pickers make a living by collecting and selling recyclable materials. While this provides income for the poor, it can be dangerous and unhygienic work.

5. Air Pollution

Urban air pollution comes from vehicles, factories, construction and the burning of waste and fuel for cooking. The World Health Organization estimates that 9 out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants, with the worst conditions in developing world cities.

Case Study: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro shows many typical urban growth challenges faced by cities in developing countries.

Rio de Janeiro: Urban Growth Challenges

Background: Rio's population grew from 3 million in 1950 to over 13 million today in the metropolitan area. About 22% of Rio's population lives in favelas (informal settlements).

Key Challenges:

Housing: Over 1,000 favelas house about 1.5 million people. Many are built on steep hillsides prone to landslides.
Transport: Commuters can spend 3-4 hours daily in traffic. The city has invested in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems and expanded the metro for the 2016 Olympics.
Water and Sanitation: Many favelas lack proper sewage systems. Guanabara Bay is heavily polluted with untreated sewage.
Waste: While formal areas have waste collection, many favelas have limited or no service.

Solutions:

Favela-Bairro upgrading programme to improve infrastructure in informal settlements
Pacification Police Units (UPP) to reduce crime in favelas
Cable cars in Complexo do Alemão favela to improve transport links
Community-based initiatives for waste collection and recycling

Sustainable Solutions to Urban Challenges

Cities are finding innovative ways to address urban growth challenges:

🏠 Housing Solutions

In-situ upgrading of informal settlements
Self-help housing schemes
Affordable public housing projects

🚌 Transport Solutions

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems
Integrated transport networks
Cable cars for hillside settlements

💦 Water & Waste Solutions

Community water kiosks
Rainwater harvesting
Community-based waste collection

Summary: Key Points to Remember

Rapid urban growth in developing countries is driven by both rural-urban migration and natural population increase
Major challenges include housing shortages, traffic congestion, inadequate water and sanitation and waste management problems
Informal settlements develop when formal housing can't keep up with population growth
Sustainable solutions need to address multiple challenges simultaneously
Community involvement is essential for successful urban improvement projects

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!