In developing countries the growth of urbanisation is causing some worrying social, environmental and health problems. As the introduction to the article below puts it:
“UN figures for urbanisation, published this week in the State of the World 2007 report, show that more than 60 million people – roughly the population of the UK – are added to the planet’s cities and suburbs each year, mostly in low-income urban settlements in developing countries. Unplanned urbanisation is taking a huge toll on human health and the quality of the environment, contributing to social, ecological, and economic instability in many countries.”
Streets ahead Guardian (17/1/07)
Questions
| 1. | Assess the impact of the growth of urbanisation on the rate of development in developing countries. |
| 2. | Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of growing urbanisation to a developing country. |
| 3. | Assess the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in helping to minimise the negative consequences of urbanisation. |