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Positive Effects Of Urbanization And Its Effects On The Environment

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Evans Oppong Dr. Nagle ENG 111 30 August 2017 Effects of Urbanization on the Environment Recent data has shown that the world’s total population is doubling; however, the world's urban population is tripling. In the early 1800s, only 2 percent of the world’s population lived in urban areas (Urbanization; an environmental force to reckon with). This is a sharp contrast to what we have today. The promise of ample job opportunities, higher wages, and a better standard of living have been the main luring factors for attracting people into cities. Today about 50 percent of the world’s population lives in urban areas. It is estimated that by 2050 about 60-70 percent of the world’s population will be living in urban areas (Urbanization; an environmental force to reckon with). This growth trend of the urban populace is troubling since it has tremendous bad effects on our environment which in turn has bad effects on our health and well-being. Transformation of some parts of the land surface for urban utilizations is a standout amongst the most irreversible human effects on the worldwide biosphere. It accelerates the loss of exceptionally productive farmlands, increases energy demands, affects climate change, and pollutes the land, air and water bodies. These effects of swift urban expansion go far beyond the urban areas to the surrounding remote areas. With the rapid urban expansion, comes the demand for more housing. This has resulted in the conversion of a lot of lands

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