Topic: Impact of Urbanization
Country: New Zealand
Delegate Name: Kaitlyn Dann
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All New Zealand position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
As the human population size increases in this world, cities and urbanization continue to grow. Worldwide, the move from rural to urban areas is apparent. A lack of natural resources such as transportation availability and population pressures in rural areas can be held responsible as the cause of the migration. Urbanization and industrialization has a goal to make human life easier by providing quick access to resources. Though the benefits of industrialized cities can be seen, the environmental destruction is too great to ignore. To develop a new city and expand our pre-existing, an enormous amount of energy and land must be used. Forests, wetlands, and other environments see their end as urban development overruns the land. This has been a problem in all of history. It is becoming a more major problem currently, however, as the amount of land available is decreasing. Many countries have already used much of their land for industrialization, and as the population continues to grow and the push towards living in urban areas remains, countries continue to take more natural environments for development. Soon there will not be any rural areas left if we keep giving in to the pressures of urban sprawl. These urban areas have industries and factories within their boundaries that also produce pollution of many different types including air and water. In 1960, 34% of the world’s population lived in urban areas. In 2014, that percentage had increased to almost 55%. The development of more cities is inevitable. People throughout history have consistently pushed urban sprawl, as they look for better standards of living. The United Nations needs to take action to ensure urbanization can occur with minimal impact on the environment. We must acknowledge that urbanization has always and will always exist. From this urbanization comes environmental problems, so we must work to increase environmental health worldwide.
The growth of urban centers requires a plan to ensure environmental health. Out of New Zealand’s total population of 4.4 million, 86%, or about 37.8 million people reside in urbanized areas which covers less than 2% of the land area. The gradual increase of urban populations within New Zealand throughout the country’s history follows the worldwide recognized trend. In 1881, a little under 60% of New Zealand’s population lived in rural areas — a major difference from the population’s statistics today. As New Zealand began to see this sprawl as a major issue, the government took action to combat the effects. Acts and laws such as the Resource Management Act of 1991 and the Environment Act of 1986 ensure the proper use of land and resources in the country. While these acts look to better the country as a whole, they ensure that urban areas follow suit and work to obtain a healthier environment as well. While cities are necessary for basically all countries’ economies, there are necessary environmental actions and regulations that must be taken to secure both the environment’s health and humans’ health.
New Zealand acknowledges that a complete end to urban sprawl is not possible in the foreseeable future, so instead, we must work to encourage heavy environmental regulations to prevent as much damage as possible in urbanized areas. Urban centers in many countries are key aspects of the economy and culture. Cities must look for new ways for energy sources to decrease their carbon footprint such as wind and solar energy. New Zealand in particular has a high cost of living in its major cities compared to rural areas; this is true for many, if not all countries. New Zealand is known for its beautiful land and nature, especially after the film adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. If action isn’t taken soon, the carbon footprint and pollution due to urban areas can destroy the beautiful nature in the world. As best said in Tolkien’s novel: “It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish.” It’s time to work as a united group of nations and save of precious land.
