Discuss three challenges faced by cities as urbanization expands.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary, but the text identifies six specific challenges:Cities have huge ecological footprints; they are not self-sustaining and draw considerable resources from surrounding areas.Cities lack vegetation and therefore do not benefit from the pollution-clearing and oxygen-producing benefits of plants.Urban areas have water problems; their demands draw water resources from surrounding areas. Urbanization also create flood hazards as people build on flood plains and pave over natural buffers to water drainage.Cities concentrate pollution and health problems. The health problems arise due to rapid spread of disease in areas of high population density. The intense resource consumption of cities creates locally intense pollution.Noise pollution is rampant and possibly damaging to urban dwellers.Cities cause light pollution and affect local climate. The local climate affects develop since cities tend to be warmer, rainier, foggier and cloudier than suburbs and rural areas. They also generate an excess of heat. Light pollution interferes with local wildlife and enjoyment and astronomical observation of the night sky.