GROWING CITIES, SHRINKING NATURE EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION A LITERATURE-BASED REVIEW OF GLOBAL EVIDENCE, WITH REFERENCE TO PAKISTAN

Abstract

Urbanization is a gradual process that is taking place on a global scale. Urban areas currently accommodate over half of the population, with the urban share projected to rise steadily in the coming decades (UN-DESA, 2018). Urban centers have been engines of economic growth and innovation, but they have also experienced fast growth in their built environment, which is putting increasing strain on the natural environment. Objective. This article explores the environmental impacts of urbanization, in relation to land-use change and biodiversity, air quality, water resources, and climate, and applies the Pakistani context of one of the leading urbanizing countries in Southern Asia. Methodology. The study is a narrative, literature-based review. It integrates peer-reviewed studies and information and information and data from authoritative sources such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, UN-Habitat, and the World Bank. Primary Data were not collected. Major findings. These facts suggest that urbanization is the chief contributor to habitat and biodiversity loss (Seto et al., 2012), urban centers are responsible for a substantial share of global energy use and contribute significantly to greenhouse-gas emissions (UN-Habitat, n.d.; UNEP, n.d.), and that nearly the entire world's population is at risk of being affected by air pollution above air-quality guidelines (WHO, 2024). According to official data, Pakistan is experiencing continued urban growth, accompanied by increasing pressure on land resources, air, and water in the urban centers. Conclusion. While urbanization can cause environmental harm, it does not have to be, as environmental impacts per capita can be lowered by well-designed compact and green cities. The common problem is to control urban development to ensure that the growth of cities is not at the expense of the loss of nature.