Syllabus:
Urbanization, their problems and their remedies (GS 1)
Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation (GS 3)
Source:
The Hindu,26/10/2023
Context:
Rapid urbanization in India and its after effects.
Content:
- By 2035, it is projected that India’s urban population will swell to 675 million, making it the second largest urban population globally.
- Despite the fact that urban areas are driving India’s ascent to economic prominence, they are largely falling short in meeting health, environmental, and equity goals for their residents.
Need for comprehensive urban public health strategies
- Air Pollution Related Health Risks: Air pollution, caused by emissions from vehicles, industrial processes, and other sources, is associated with a myriad of health issues. Exposure to fine particles in polluted air can lead to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections.
- Lifestyle Diseases: Lifestyle diseases are commonly seen in India and include obesity, Type II diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure, mental health issues, and cancer. These illnesses develop over time and are largely caused due to leading an unhealthy lifestyle which consists of a poor diet, lack of exercise, etc.
- Cardiometabolic Diseases: Cardiometabolic diseases refer to metabolic and cardiac abnormalities linked to glucose intolerance, hypertension, abdominal obesity and dyslipidaemia. Urban inhabitants in India experience multi-scalar health risks that dramatically magnify health risks for heart disease and diabetes.
- Inadequate Urban Health Infrastructure: Lack of proper urban health infrastructure such as primary health centers and well-equipped medical institutes is a major problem. Overburdened health services due to overpopulation and rise in non-communicable diseases also pose a challenge.
- High Out-of-Pocket Expenditure: High out-of-pocket expenditure remains a stress factor for many urban poor in India.
- Social Inequality: This creates barriers for the marginalized and vulnerable groups to access healthcare.
- Unhealthy Diets and Reduced Physical Activity: These factors pose a greater risk to morbidity and mortality than most other risk factors combined.
- Lack of Access to Sidewalks and Parks: This limits active lifestyles which is an important factor in mitigating the development of cardiometabolic disease.
- Dysfunctional provisioning system in urban India :Dysfunctional provisioning systems consume more than 90% of the world’s water and global CO2 emissions and facilitate an estimated 19 million premature deaths annually.
| Seven key physical provisioning systems that provide food, energy, mobility-transportation, housing, green infrastructure, water and waste management that lie at the core of human health, well-being, equity and sustainability. |
Sustainable Urbanization
- Sustainable urbanization involves the study and practice of creating cities that are viable, resilient, and liveable.
- The aim is to minimize the adverse effects of urbanization on people and the environment.
- Sustainable urbanization requires vision, commitment, and governance from city planners and stakeholders.
Challenges to Sustainable Urbanization
- Access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food: Rapid urbanization often leads to increased food insecurity as the urban poor struggle to afford nutritious food. Urban agriculture can be a solution but faces challenges like lack of space and contamination.
- Land, Air, Water, Noise Pollutions: Urban areas contribute significantly to pollution due to high population density and industrial activities. This affects the quality of life and can lead to health issues.
- Poor Transportation: Inadequate public transportation and over-reliance on private vehicles can lead to traffic congestion, air pollution, and increased commuting time.
- Poor Sanitation: Rapid urban growth often outpaces the development of sanitation infrastructure leading to issues like waste accumulation and water contamination.
- Climate Change: Cities contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change such as heatwaves and flooding.
- Health Issues: Urban lifestyle often leads to sedentary behavior and unhealthy diets, contributing to non-communicable diseases. Pollution and poor sanitation also lead to various health issues.
- High Energy Consumption: Urban areas consume a significant amount of energy for transportation, heating, cooling, and lighting, contributing to high carbon emissions.
Govt Initiatives
- Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Project: This is a national urban renewal program launched by the Government of India in 2015. The scheme aims to improve the quality of life in urban areas by providing basic amenities such as water supply, sewerage, and stormwater drainage.
- Swachh Bharat Mission Urban: Launched in 2014, this national campaign promotes cleanliness, sanitation, and proper waste management in urban areas.
- Smart Cities Mission: Launched in 2015, this mission promotes cities that provide core infrastructure, clean and sustainable environment and give a decent quality of life to their citizens through the application of ‘smart solutions.
- Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY): HRIDAY aims to bring together urban planning, economic growth and heritage conservation in an inclusive manner to preserve the heritage character of each Heritage City.
- BS 6 Emission Norms: These standards aim to regulate the amount of pollutants emitted by vehicles powered by petrol and diesel engines.
Way Forward
- Urban Health Transformation: A redesign of local built environments is needed in this new era for public health in India.
- System Changes: Modifications in provisioning systems like food, mobility, and green infrastructure are essential.
- Catalytic Effect: Even minor alterations in these systems can significantly boost health and productivity, acting as multi-purpose interventions.
- Healthy Policies: Policies promoting consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables while limiting sugars and salt in beverages can greatly impact health issues like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. These policies can also enhance economic productivity.
- Clean Investments: Investments in clean energy and electric mobility are crucial.
- Holistic Urban Policy: A comprehensive urban policy is required for overall improvement.
Related Topics
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
- SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Ten targets under SDG 11 to create action to make cities and communities sustainable.
- SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING:By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
- AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS:By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.
- INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION:By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
- PROTECT THE WORLD’S CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE:Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
- REDUCE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS:By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
- REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CITIES:By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAFE AND INCLUSIVE GREEN AND PUBLIC SPACES:By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
- STRONG NATIONAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING:Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
- IMPLEMENT POLICIES FOR INCLUSION, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION:By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
- SUPPORT LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT BUILDING: Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.
Reference:
- Global Goals
- Air pollution(WHO)
- Prime Minister launches Schemes for transforming Urban Areas- AMRUT 2.0 and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0
- Addressing the Sustainable Urbanization Challenge
Practice Question
Urban health has emerged as a significant area of concern within the healthcare sector in India. Discuss the major challenges associated with urban health and suggest measures to improve the situation.