Megacity crisis

Negative environment of megacities

Nature

Megacities are largely a phenomenon of the developing world. It is predicted that in a few years' time, the urban population of the developing world will be twice as big as that of the industrialized countries.

Background

London and New York were for many years the largest cities in the world with around a million people. With a later definition of a "megacity" as a city with a population of over 5 million inhabitants, then in 1950 Mexico City was the only one in the developing world to qualify for that name. 32 more cities have become 'megacities' (by the year 2000, there will be at least 35). In 1990, the 33 largest cities comprised

Incidence

Megacities now tend to be described as cities having more than 10 million inhabitants. By the year 2015, the 10 largest cities in the world will be in Asia, Latin America and Africa. While Tokyo, with 28.7 million inhabitants, is expected to be the largest and only one among the world's megacities located in the developed world, the remaining nine will all be in developing countries: Bombay, India (27.4 million); Lagos, Nigeria (24.4); Shanghai, China (23.4); Jakarta, Indonesia (21.2); Sao Paulo, Brazil (20.8); Karachi, Pakistan (20.6); Beijing, China (19.4); Dhaka, Bangladesh (19); and Mexico City, Mexico (18.8).

Claim

The megacity crisis is an urgent global catastrophe demanding immediate action. Explosive urban growth breeds overcrowding, pollution, poverty, and crumbling infrastructure, threatening millions of lives and the planet’s future. Ignoring this crisis is reckless and short-sighted; it fuels inequality, disease, and environmental collapse. We cannot afford complacency—addressing the megacity crisis is not optional, but essential for human dignity, sustainability, and global stability. The world must act now, before it’s too late.

Counter-claim

The so-called "megacity crisis" is grossly exaggerated and hardly deserves our concern. Urbanization has always driven progress, innovation, and economic growth. Claims of crisis ignore the adaptability of cities and the resilience of their populations. Instead of panicking over hypothetical disasters, we should recognize that megacities are engines of opportunity, not ticking time bombs. The real crisis is wasting energy on unfounded fears rather than embracing the benefits of urban expansion.