Consequences Of Urbanization

In Rio de Janeiro, a LEDC, the consequences of urbanisation are causing a lot of trouble. Higher rates of urbanisation is observed in LICs rather than HIC because most new economic developments in these countries are concentrated in the big cities. They also experience higher rates of population growth as they do not have much education about birth control. Adding to that, the push and pull factors are leading to high rates of rural and urban migrants who move in search of a better life. People are attracted to cities, hoping to have a higher standard of living, having a stable job, and having access to facilities, entertainment and healthcare. Unfortunately, the reality is completely different when people find themselves struggling for survival
Hong Kong is a small city with a population of around 7 million. With a population density of 6553 people/km2, the most dense major urban area in the high-income world, at least one small area of Hong Kong (Mongkok) has a population density exceeding 130,000. In order to fit everyone, there are tall towers and create more land by either destroying the old ones or by reclamation. The demand is a lot higher than supply, therefore leading to the average HK apartments over $200,000 and those in poverty have to live in cage homes. For instance, Tony, a resident who lives in a 500 square foot apartment with 21 other residents said, “The most difficult thing about living here, is not being able to breathe in fresh air. It’s suffocating”. People like Tony wish to be able to apply for public housing, but they would have to wait for another 10
The average roadside emissions in the busiest areas such as Central, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok is almost double the maximum safe levels. A 37-year-old Canadian is increasingly worried about her children’s health. She thinks her son might be suffering from the effects of pollution after doctor’s treatments. “When I moved to Hong Kong, people told me the air pollution was bad, but no one told me it was this bad,” she said. “The government should make it mandatory to cancel school on days where pollution is high; they cancel schools in the event of typhoons, for example. It is like they are killing our children.” With the concentrations of nitrogen oxides in the air have always surpassed the maximum safe level set by WHO, Hong Kongers are suffocating. The waste loads in Hong Kong are also growing at a much faster rate than the population. Over the past nine years, the population has only increased by 0.9 per cent, however the municipal solid waste loads have grown by about three per cent annually, leading to the three existing landfills (Nim Wan, Tseung Kwan O and Ta Kwu Ling) being under enormous pressure. It is estimated the three existing landfills would be full in six to 10