3.2.3.7 Other contemporary urban environmental issues

Question 1

Air pollution issues (London)

Answer 1

• 4,000 people die prematurely every year
• worse than many EU countries but better than Asian countries
• traffic emits 50% of nitrous oxide emissions

Question 2

Air pollution solutions (London)

Answer 2

• £15 congestion charge
• London offers a free to download air pollution app
• annual emission test MOT

Question 3

Air pollution issues (Mumbai)

Answer 3

• Dangerous levels of nitrous oxides
• Second most polluted city in the world

Question 4

Air pollution solutions (Mumbai)

Answer 4

• BEST buses converted to using compressed natural gas (CNG)
• spraying water to limit air borne pollution on building sites

Question 5

Water issues (London)

Answer 5

• 27% of water meets quality standards
• under the EU water directive framework, 1/41 bodies of water are considered ‘good’
• Thames Water pumped 70bn litres of sewage into the Thames since 2020

Question 6

Water solutions (London)

Answer 6

• SUDS
• Environmental Agency oversees water quality and fined Thames Water £3mn

Question 7

Water issues (Mumbai)

Answer 7

• 77% of households have poor water quality
• Mithi river badly effected by industrial discharge
• extensive urban sprawl leads to runoff

Question 8

Water solutions (Mumbai)

Answer 8

• community engagement (Clean Mumbai, Green Mumbai)
• Maharashra Pollution Control Board imposes regulations and penalties on industrial regions

Question 9

How was the clean air act amended in 1997

Answer 9

• local authorities are required to assess and review the air quality
• if pollutants exceeds expectations then regulations will be set
• this resulted in 50% of the households being within a Smoke Free Zone