With Reference To Several Contrasting Cities, Discuss The Challenges And Solutions Of Managing The Urban Environment

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With Reference To Several Contrasting Cities, Discuss The Challenges And Solutions Of Managing The Urban Environment

Over the years the population of major cities has been increasing rapidly resulting in a number of problems for both LEDC’s and MEDC’s. LEDC’s main problems are with housing whereas MEDC’s have more problems with its environment and transport situation.

LEDC’s

Sao Paulo, Brazil

In Sao Paulo the wealthy and the poor live quite close together. The rich live in luxury apartments with lots of security (this is because there is a high crime rate and the rich are the best targets). The poor buy very old town houses or if they can’t afford that they build their own favelas which have no electricity, no running water and are very unhygienic. They are built on unsuitable land like steep hills or on the side of railways and as they don’t own the land the government can throw them out and bulldoze their house at any time. The favelas are often overcrowded with 10 or more people living in one room!

The transport in Sao Paulo is fairly good. It has a port, railways and roads and 35% of the population own cars. In 1991 it was estimated that 3.4 million people used public transport daily and in recent years $95 million has been spent on 270km of suburban main line railways. With transport comes pollution but as Sao Paulo has no industry the pollution is at a minimum.

Mexico City

Mexico City has seen a massive population increase. In 1970 there were 9 million inhabitants living in a 400-mile square area. By 1996 17 million people were living in an 870-mile square area. As the population has increased the urban area has expanded outwards into an area that was rural farmland beforehand. 50% of people living in Mexico City at the moment live as squatters in illegal dwellings, which are run down and have no amenities. Being illegal dwellings they could lose their house at anytime.

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In 1985 an earthquake destroyed many older buildings in the city which had not been built to withstand this sort of pressure. Many people were left homeless. Aid organisations came to the rescue by rebuilding new houses or giving money to be spent on housing.

Mexico City is struggling to keep its pollution to a minimum but it is trying some ideas to keep the amount to a safe level. One idea is that all taxis over 10 years old must be replaced so they have newer and more environmentally friendly engines. Many poor people rely on their income ...

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