1
What has been the pattern of global urbanization and megacity growth in recent decades?
1. True or False: Currently more people live in rural areas that cities, but that is expected to change soon.
FALSE
2. In 2025, where will most of the world’s megacities be found?
North America
Europe
Africa
Asia
D
3. True or False: Urban dwellers typically have lower carbon footprints than people who live in rural or suburban areas.
TRUE
4. The urban heat island effect is caused by:
minimal green space.
lots of pavement and buildings.
high energy use in the city as a whole.
all of the above.
D
5. Point out several reasons why the typical city dweller has a lower ecological footprint than a suburban dweller. What are some problems that might be greater for a large city than for a smaller suburban one?
The lower impact can be due to: smaller homes and multi-family homes that tend to be more energy efficient due to a smaller footprint; smaller homes means individuals own less “stuff”, reducing the impact from producing and shipping those items; less personal automobile travel (more public transit and less distance traveled than a suburban area). “Big city” problems include the need to import food and other goods and export large volumes of waste — the logistics of this is formidable because of the high population density. Violence may be greater and disease may spread more easily in high density areas. Less green space also leads to stormwater drainage issues.
3
What is environmental justice? How does urban flight contribute to and result from environmental justice problems?
6. Which of the following is an example of environmental injustice?
Locating industries away from where people live
Building garbage dumps in high-poverty, low-income areas
People chaining themselves to trees to prevent the trees from being cut down
Preventing the construction of a dam to save an endangered species of fish
B
7. In response to redlining in the 1960s, landlords in the Bronx:
increased rents, forcing working-class people to move out of the borough.
subdivided apartments into smaller units to increase the number of renters.
burned their buildings to collect insurance money.
constructed walkways for tenants to access the nearest subway.
C
8. If urban centers have better health care and job opportunities than outlying areas, why are some city residents exposed to worse, not better, living conditions?
While some areas improve and boast good jobs, healthcare centers, cultural attractions, and schools, other areas may be the place where the city’s trash is dealt with, where industry resides, or where sewage treatment plants are located. In other words, one area may be wealthy and clean because another area is poor and polluted.
9. True or False: As one moves from the city center to the suburbs and exurbs, home size tends to increase.
TRUE
10. Compared to inner city dwellers, suburban and exurban dwellers tend to:
have lower ecological footprints.
live in lower population density communities.
walk more and drive less.
work close to home and have short commutes.
B
11. The exurbs are:
discrete communities within the city center.
regions too distant from the city for city commuters to live.
areas outside suburbs with even bigger houses and longer commutes.
suburban areas that are losing residents to the city.
C
12. Identify several reasons suburban dwellers might have bigger ecological footprints than urban dwellers.
The biggest footprint factors revolve around energy usage. Longer commutes and a car-culture community (stores and amenities not in walking distance) greatly increase the use of individual or family vehicles for transportation. Homes tend to be larger in the suburbs and tend to be single family homes; this increases energy use in the home. Higher consumption of consumer goods (more space to hold their stuff) also can increase the waste generated by a suburban dweller.
5
How can we create cities that are environmentally sustainable and promote good quality of life for the residents?
13. True or False: To be LEED-certified, a building must be constructed with recycled materials and use sustainable energy sources such as solar panels.
FALSE
14. A city that promotes smart growth:
encourages development at the city edges.
provides tax incentives for people who own more than one car.
allows vacant lots to accumulate in the city for a more open look.
mixes land uses to place residential and commercial areas together.
D
15. Explain the triple bottom line, using the Bronx waterfront restoration as an example.
The triple bottom line is an evaluation in which one considers the economic benefits, ecological benefits, and social benefits of any action. In the Bronx, waterfront restoration had economic benefits for developers, created jobs and is expected to attract new businesses. People benefit from cleaner air and water, a place for recreation, and job creation (also considered a social benefit). The environment benefits from a reduction in pollution and the creation of natural habitat for wetland species; aquatic species would also benefit from less pollution entering the river.
16. What is New Urbanism, and why do its proponents feel that cities may be one of our biggest answers to many of the environmental problems we face today?
New Urbanism is a movement that promotes the sustainable development of cities. Proponents point out that with the majority of the human population living in cities now, and even more so in the future, it is imperative that we develop our cities to reduce their impact. But they also say that the cities are the best places to do this because of the many advantages of a well-designed city and the lower per capita ecological footprint of its residents.