Challenges in the Human Environment

Have you ever walked down a busy street where someone bumps into you? You might think, “Wow, there are too many people here!”. As a result of urban growth, this will only increase. Urban areas are being faced with many challenges, as more people move into these spaces. Let's take a look at some of the causes of this growth, the issues facing urban areas, as well as the difficulties with managing this. Let's dive in.

Challenges in the human environment geography

Over half of the world's population is found in urban areas, and this is only going to increase. This urban growth can cause many challenges. Firstly, let's try and understand the concept of urban growth.

Urbanisation and urban growth

Why have urban areas grown?

Urban growth can be caused by migration (international migration or rural-urban migration). Migration is the movement of people to a place. Migration occurs as a result of push and pull factors. Push factors are things like natural disasters or fewer job opportunities, which push people away from a place (e.g., rural regions). Pull factors are things like better-paid jobs or improved access to services like healthcare and education, which pull or attract people to a place. Natural Increase is another reason for the growth of urban areas.

Urban growth can be dependent on the economic development levels of a country. Different countries are classified by the World Bank according to their economic levels; Lower-Income Countries (LICs), Newly Emerging Economies (NEEs), and Higher-Income Countries (HICs). Take a look at our Measures of Development explanation for more on this. LICs tend to have low urban densities, but high rates of urbanisation. HICs are characterised by high urban densities, but lower urbanisation rates. NEEs are somewhere in the middle.

So, our urban areas are growing as a result of migration and natural increase. But what kinds of issues and challenges does this growth bring?

Urban issues and challenges examples

Like LICs and NEEs, HICs also suffer from high housing costs. In the capital cities of Europe, for instance, demand for housing is high. Many households have to spend more of their income on housing, which widens economic inequalities.

Fig. 1 - Slums in Caracas, Venezuela

Urban Pollution

Urban pollution is the presence or emission of harmful substances in(to) the air, water, or land in urban areas, which can cause environmental degradation and can contribute to Climate Change. This includes waste, air, and water pollution. Cities generate a lot more waste and pollution than rural areas. Air pollution is a result of transport and industry emissions. More traffic congestion from urban growth leads to more CO₂ emissions, exacerbating the effects of Climate Change.

Fig. 2 - Smog in Almaty, Kazakhstan

HICs tend to have older and more established sewage and sanitation systems which have managed to keep up with population growth. LICs and NEEs can struggle to keep up with this growth, leading to illegal dumping and waste disposal in areas that can pollute clean water supplies.

Urban Inequality

Urban inequality can be caused by poor planning for resource distribution, historical segregation (separation) by race and income, and/or other social issues. As a result, some parts of cities with poorer access to jobs, education, and housing could have a lower standard of living and lower life expectancy than wealthier neighbourhoods.

In developed countries, there are issues of inequalities in housing, education, jobs, and health.

Those with lower incomes may live in areas with fewer green spaces, and more roads and traffic, leading to health problems, as the quality of the air is lower. In poorer areas, children may leave school early and with fewer qualifications, affecting future employment. Unhealthy lifestyles can also sometimes arise from a lack of education; excessive drinking, smoking, or nutrient-deficient diets can affect life expectancy.

Unemployment and crime

Unemployment and underemployment rates are usually higher in developing countries. Many migrants from rural areas may be low-skilled when they move to urban areas, and therefore are unable to get a job. This can increase the Informal Economy.

Crime is also likely to be higher in urban spaces and cities, often because there are more people. Inequalities found in urban centres are also a cause of increased crime rates.

Challenges of managing urban growth

With urban growth and expansion, there are many issues. But when it comes to managing urban growth, what are the challenges?

Urban sprawl

This usually occurs when there is a lack of affordable housing in inner-city areas, when new businesses expand, when there is a need for more road access, or simply the need for more space to accommodate the increasing population. Although the land may be cheaper, there is a loss of green spaces and increased congestion and pollution, contributing to a lower environmental quality.

Industrialisation and pollution

Developing countries may not be able to afford the expensive solutions to reduce pollution, compared to developed nations. There are also fewer environmental regulations in developing countries. Developing countries are experiencing rapid industrialisation; they may be the sites for factories and textile industries which pollute more. Air pollution can come from more traffic congestion in older vehicles and unregulated factory pollution. Water pollution can occur from improper or illegal dumping of sewage and industrial waste.

The challenge of resource management

Resources are vital for our survival, or for improving our standard of living. Resources are things like food, water, or energy sources. The majority of resources are consumed in urban areas, and as the population grows, making sure there is enough resource supply, to reduce deficits and insecurity, is vital. Each city has a challenge in providing these necessary amenities to its residents. Take a look at our explanations on Global Resource Management, and our other explanations relating to energy, water and food supplies, consumption, and management.

Urban issue case studies

Within geography, using case studies can help to example the points that you have made. Our case study explanations on urban issues are super important for this topic. Take a look at Urban Challenges in the UK (HIC), Rio de Janeiro Case Study (NEE) and Lagos Case Study (LIC).