11 - Sustainability and LA Cities

Question 1

what are the 3 main challenges for urban sustainability

Answer 1

1) shortening in basic services like transport
2) inadequate green areas
3) poor solid waste and water management

Question 2

who is most affected by poor waste management in urban areas?

Answer 2

1) informal waste workers
2) nearby residents
3) marginalized (benachteiligte) communities
facing helath risks from poor waste management

Question 3

how does inadequate waste handling impact the environment ?

3 impacts

Answer 3

contributes to
- greenhouse gas emissions
- soil and water pollution
- negatively impacts biodiversity

Question 4

How doeas access to green areas vary within Santiago?

Answer 4

varies greatly by neighborhood, highlighting urban inequality and segregation
+ also quality varies significantly!!

Question 5

why are LA cities particularly vulnerable to natural disasters?

Answer 5

high urban density and weak infrastructure -> increase vulnerability to extreme weather events

Question 6

what impacts of climate change are expected in LA?

Answer 6

increased heat waves, heavy rainfall, floods, landslides, rising sea levels amplifying (vergrößern) urban risks

Question 7

costs of inaction on climate change for LA?

Answer 7

1,5-5% of its annaully GDP

Question 8

why is water access a critical issue in LA?

Answer 8

growing scarcity through drought + growing competition among human, agriculture and industrial uses

Question 9

challenges in water infrastructure?

3 main aspects

Answer 9

Aging infrastructure, water loss through leaks and polluted water sources

Question 10

what are the key adaption needs for cities facing climate risks?

Answer 10

1) investing in flood control
2) drought resilience
3) climate-resilient infrastructure

Question 11

Amount of treated wastewater in LA?

Answer 11

only 20-30%, meaning 70-80% is polluted -> environmental and health risks

Question 12

why is natural capital important in urban areas?

Answer 12

urban forests and green spaces
-> help reduce pollution, support biodiversity, improve public health

Question 13

what is needed for an efficient water resource management

Answer 13

coordination is needed among actors working in different sectors. across areas that may not align with watershed boundaries

Question 14

factors that have pressed over the water resource in the last 2 decades

Answer 14

• increasing demand due to increasing population
• increasing pollution of underground water & untreatened sewage and wastewater discharges
• deforestation
• drainage of wetlands & subsequent occupation (Trockenlegung von Feuchtgebieten & anschließende Besiedlung)
• lack of investments in reuse water
• disagreements between private capital & public water supply –> internalization of water costs for large firms!! 70 % of water usage in Chile is used for agriculture!!

Question 15

Urban Segregation & Green Areas

Answer 15

green areas deficit in all LAC cities, but clear sample of urban segregation is difference of access to public green areas in cities

Question 16

Vulnerability & Disasters

Answer 16

high population concentration & fragility of part of the infrastructure -> strong vulnerability to Extreme Events in Urban Spaces
PLUS inequality and spatial segregation
-> climate change does not cause poverty but excerbates any vulnerability