Impacts of Rapid Development on People & the Environment (Edexcel GCSE Geography A)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Impacts of Rapid Development in India
There are positive and negative impacts of rapid development in India
The biggest negative impact of rapid development is the increasing gap between the core and periphery
Positive and Negative Impacts of Rapid Development in India
| Positive Impact | Negative Impact |
|---|---|---|
Social | Literacy levels are rising due to government policy, leading to better jobs and income
| Rapid population growth through decreasing death rates and increasing life expectancy adds stress on housing provision (slums) and healthcare services
|
Economic | Larger workforce: a stronger economy
| The cost of new infrastructure can be expensive and doesn't reach peripheral regions
|
Environmental | Development and availability of new technologies that improve the efficiency and sustainability of farming techniques and reduce overgrazing and over-cultivation of the land
| Over-extraction of natural resources leads to pollution and damage to the environment. In Kerala, a drink bottling plant was shut after polluting water supplies
|
Strategies to Manage the Impacts of Rapid Development in India
India has agreed to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by:
Planting more forests to absorb carbon emissions
Investing in renewable energy sources such as solar power
Partially funded by the World Bank, two large solar parks are being developed in Madhya Pradesh
The government has invested in reforesting and improving degraded land
People in Payvihir, Maharashtra, received support to reforest and grow organic food, which is sold to the rising middle class in Mumbai.
Profits are re-invested in healthcare, sanitation and education for the villagers
As a member of the G20, India now has a greater influence on global politics
India is the third country to have an environmental court; Australia and New Zealand were first
The National Green Tribunal was set up in India in 2010 to deal with issues of environmental protection and conservation
It can make companies and individuals pay compensation under the 'polluter pays' principle and has helped clean up some of India's cities
E-waste recycling, where old computers and electronic equipment are broken down and re-used
In Mumbai, a new Metro system, a ban on diesel cars and regular checks on factory waste have improved levels of pollution for the people living there
Recently, the Tribunal has struggled with a loss of support and declining resources
Smart City Mission is an urban renewal and retrofitting programme by the government to develop 100 smart cities across the country, making them people-friendly and sustainable
Worked Example
Explain two negative environmental impacts of rapid development
(4)
The question asks for negative impacts on the environment
Do not focus on problems for people or authorities in cities or the same environmental impact or talk about social impacts such as lack of housing, jobs or healthcare
Answer:
More people in rapidly developing cities will use cars and other forms of transport (1), which will increase emissions and reduce air quality (1).
There will be a need for more housing (1), which will need land to build on. This will destroy natural habitats, endanger species and pollute waterways (1).
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