6.11 Challenges of Urban Sustainability

7 min read•january 8, 2023

Harrison Burnside

Riya Patel

AP Human Geography 🚜

320 resources

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Introduction

Urban sustainability refers to the ability of a city or urban area to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Ensuring urban sustainability can be challenging due to a range of social, economic, and environmental factors. Some of the challenges that cities and urban areas may face in achieving urban sustainability include:

Limited resources: Urban areas can place significant demands on natural resources, such as water, energy, and land, which may be in limited supply.
Pollution and environmental degradation: Urbanization can also contribute to environmental problems such as air and water pollution, and the loss of green spaces and natural habitats.
Traffic congestion and transportation: Urbanization can lead to increased traffic congestion and a reliance on private vehicles, which can contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Poverty and inequality: Urbanization can also lead to the concentration of poverty in certain neighborhoods or areas, which can have negative impacts on the health and well-being of residents and create social and economic disparities.

To address these challenges, cities and urban areas may adopt policies and practices that promote sustainable development, including through the use of renewable energy, the promotion of public transportation, and the protection of natural resources.

Problems

Land use and environmental problems linked to the expansion and decline of urban communities include suburban sprawl, poor sanitation, air & water quality, remediation & redevelopment of brownfields, farmland protection, and energy use.

Brownfields

A brownfield is a property that is potentially contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Brownfields are often abandoned or underused industrial or commercial properties that may pose a risk to human health and the environment. The presence of contamination on a brownfield site can make it difficult to reuse or redevelop the property for other purposes, such as for housing, businesses, or public amenities.

The cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields can present significant challenges, including the need to assess and address any environmental contamination, the costs associated with cleanup and remediation, and the complex regulatory framework that may be involved. However, the redevelopment of brownfields can also bring about economic, social, and environmental benefits, such as the creation of new jobs, the provision of new housing or business opportunities, and the revitalization of urban areas. Governments and community organizations may work to promote the cleanup and reuse of brownfields through various means, such as financial incentives and technical assistance.

Suburban sprawl, or suburbanization, is the growth of cities outside of the major urban area. Suburbs grow in the galactic city model due to the interstate highway and the availability of goods outside of the major city, referring to Central Place Theory.

Central Place Theory

Central place theory is an economic theory that explains the spatial distribution of urban settlements and the patterns of trade and commerce within a region. The theory was developed by economist Walter Christaller in the 1930s and has been widely used to understand and analyze urban land use and settlement patterns.

Central place theory is based on the idea that settlements, or central places, are established in a region in order to provide goods and services to the surrounding area. These central places are ranked according to their size and the range of goods and services that they offer, with larger, more diverse central places serving a larger market area. The theory predicts that central places will be spaced at regular intervals within a region, and that smaller central places will be nested within the service area of larger ones.

Central place theory has been influential in shaping urban planning and policy, and it continues to be an important tool for understanding and analyzing urban settlements and economic activity. However, the theory has also been subject to criticism and revision, and it is not a comprehensive or universal explanation of urban form and behavior.

Cheaper land costs allow families to have more room for the American dream ‐ a single family home. The effects of suburbanization are declining central city use, uneven development, declining park space, and pollution as suburban and urban sprawl both continue. One effect of suburbanization is placelessness; this is the feeling that you are in the same place wherever you go because the landscape is homogenous like we discussed in Unit 1. For example, a strip mall with TGI Friday’s, Walmart, and Hot Topic looks the same in Minneapolis as it does in Houston. This conflicts with the sense of place that humans have imprinted onto our cultural landscape.

Sense of Place

The concept of a "sense of place" refers to the emotional and psychological attachment that people have to specific places, as well as the meanings and values that they ascribe to those places. A sense of place can be shaped by a variety of factors, including personal experiences, cultural and social influences, and the physical characteristics of a place.

A strong sense of place can contribute to a sense of belonging and community, and it can be an important factor in people's well-being and happiness. It can also be an important aspect of a place's identity and character, and it can influence how people use and interact with their environment.

There are many ways in which people can develop a sense of place, including through personal experiences and connections with a place, through cultural and social traditions, and through the design and physical characteristics of a place. Governments and community organizations may work to enhance a sense of place through initiatives such as placemaking, which aims to create public spaces that are functional, attractive, and meaningful to the people who use them.

Another consequence of suburban sprawl is the encroachment on land used for agriculture and other green spaces. As developers look for new places to locate new housing projects, they clear the forests and brush. They also buy farmland and push the farmers even farther out of the urban zone making it harder to sell their goods.

In developing countries, these areas outside of the city‐center are called slums, ghettos, and shantytowns. It is a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions like the disamenity sectors. In Brazil, they are known as favelas. In Peru, they are known as barriadas. In either country, these areas are a mixture of people, many who take part in the informal economy. Some are squatter settlements, where they just put up a homemade structure on a piece of land and occupy it, while others pay rent to owners who allow them to stay in the precarious housing situations. Some have access to water and electricity, and others do not.

Squatter Settlement Examples

Here are a few examples of other squatter settlements from around the world:

Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya: Kibera is one of the largest squatter settlements in Africa, with an estimated population of over 200,000 people. It is located in the capital city of Nairobi and is known for its high levels of poverty and lack of basic services such as electricity and clean water.
Orangi Town, Karachi, Pakistan: Orangi Town is a large squatter settlement in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. It is home to over one million people and is known for its lack of basic services and infrastructure.
Dharavi, Mumbai, India: Dharavi is one of the largest squatter settlements in the world, with a population of over one million people. It is located in the heart of Mumbai and is known for its densely packed and poorly constructed homes.
Neza-Chalco-Itza, Mexico City, Mexico: Neza-Chalco-Itza is a large squatter settlement on the outskirts of Mexico City. It is home to over one million people and is known for its lack of infrastructure and basic services, as well as the high levels of pollution and environmental degradation caused by the many informal industries that operate within it.

The municipalities have a hard time keeping up with the growth, and some cities don't even try to keep up. These people are also some of the most vulnerable to environmental catastrophes such as floods, tsunamis, and earthquakes as they can easily destroy their fragile homes. The severe lack of infrastructure means that there will be high levels of pollution and low levels of air and water quality. Below is a picture of a shantytown in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Source: Latin America Bureau

Shantytown

A shantytown, also known as a squatter settlement or informal settlement, is a neighborhood or community where people live and build their homes without legal permission or claim to the land. Shantytowns are often found in urban areas and are characterized by a lack of infrastructure, basic services, and legal recognition. They are often overcrowded and have poor living conditions, with residents living in makeshift homes made of materials such as cardboard, plastic, and metal.

Shantytowns can be found in many countries around the world, particularly in developing countries where there is a shortage of affordable housing. They are often home to low-income families and individuals who are unable to afford to rent or buy formal housing. The lack of legal recognition and basic services in shantytowns can create a number of challenges for residents, including lack of access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.

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