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Population, Urbanization, and the Environment Leiwen Jiang, PhD; Malea Hoepf Young, MPH; Karen Hardee, PhD WorldWatch Population Issue Launch Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Washington, DC, September 30, 2008
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Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

May 04, 2018

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Page 1: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Population, Urbanization, and the  Environment

Leiwen

Jiang, PhD; Malea

Hoepf

Young, MPH; 

Karen Hardee, PhD 

WorldWatch

Population Issue LaunchWoodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Washington, DC, September 30, 2008

Page 2: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

The World is  Trending Urban

• In 2008, the world  became mostly urban

• 3.5 billion people   concentrated on < 3% of  

planet’s land surface• Urbanization effects the 

environment and fertility  and population growth 

rates

Page 3: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Urbanization Has Varied by Region

Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2008. World Urbanization Prospects: the 2007 

Revision. New York. 

Page 4: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Higher % urban in developed countries

Page 5: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

By 2050, 80% of the world’s urban  population will be in developing countries 

Page 6: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

What Drives Growth of Urban  Population?

• Migration 

• Natural increase • Fertility rates lower in urban than rural 

areas

Source: Macro International Inc, 2008. MEASURE DHS STATcompiler. http://www.measuredhs.com, June 9 2008

Page 7: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Urbanization Stresses• City growth can outpace ability of local 

governments 

• Informal settlements and slums often 

unconnected to basic sanitation 

systems

• Air pollution often exceeds the natural 

environment’s ability to eliminate 

them

WWAP/G. Weybrecht

http://jalopnik.com

Page 8: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Potential for Preserving the  Environment through Urbanization 

• Cities offer many potential benefits 

– Technical innovation – Access to information 

– Efficient land and energy use– Better living conditions – Provision of clean water – Access to health care services 

• New York per‐capita greenhouse gas emissions are one‐third 

of the U.S. average

Page 9: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Urbanization and the Environment:  A  Complex Relationship

• Environmental Kuznets

Curve

• The theory holds for pollution that affects  local urban environments

• Relationship less clear with impacts beyond  local areas. 

Page 10: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Simulation of future urbanization and  CO2 emission in India 

Page 11: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Urbanization is inevitable

• Complex relationships among urbanization,  population growth , environment

• Raises ethical questions of equity in emissions  

• Need to transfer cleaner and more efficient  technologies without hindering development

• Need to invest in family planning

Page 12: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment - Wilson … · Population, Urbanization, and the ... Simulation of future urbanization and CO2 emission in India. Urbanization is inevitable

Thank you

Photo: Institute for Transportation and 

Development Policy, Bogota, Colombia