Global Perspectives

Urbanization and Technology

Global Perspective

Urbanization first occurred in MEDCs ("more developed country") during the industrial revolution. People were attracted to urban areas from rural areas to work in factories. They were also pushed as developments in technology led to mechanization on farms. Now a days, the rate of urbanization in LEDCs (less economically developed country) is greater than in MEDCs. As LEDCs are developing more people are migrating to urban areas. Cities are growing at a rapid rate, as is population in many LEDCs.

But urbanization bring problems, such as Unemployment, because the cuantity of jobs cannot absorb growing population numbers, Health and nutrition are sometimes poor in town where low incomes, poor access to gardens and the rise of a 'junk food' industry exist, Urban land is increasingly scarce, whether for housing, industrial development, recreation or open space and Population densities are very high in some towns, whilst lack of land has made waste disposal a problem.

But growing urbanisation does not have to spell disaster for either human health or the environment, and both research and underused technologies can help mitigate its negative effects, a conference has heard. Developing nations must accept that urbanisation is inevitable, and invest in research and infrastructure to support their growing populations.

David Satterthwaite, published this month inPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A. He said that existing technologies can ensure that urbanisation "combines high living standards with relatively low greenhouse gas emissions and lower resource demands".

Satterthwaite cites Porto Alegre in Brazil, which "provides good water, sanitation, drainage, schools", as an example of how innovative governments and a strong community can make this possible.

Better-managed cities could bring both environmental and health benefits, experts said at the conference. Indrajit Hazarika of the Indian Institute of...