Urban development in Adana, Turkey, and its environmental consequences

Abstract

Rapid urbanization without effective management results in natural sources and a substantial part of the urban population being placed at risk from man‐made environmental problems, which become increasingly serious. This paper examines the environmental problems of Adana, the sixth largest and most developed city in Turkey. Adana faced huge problems of water, soil and noise pollution, solid and liquid waste elimination and loss of fertile agricultural areas. Rapid economic development – industrialization, population growth and unplanned urbanization – were determined to be the main causes of these environmental problems. Some recommendations are also made for mitigating and managing these problems in the sustainable urban development perspective.

Keywords:

• Urbanization
• Urban environment
• Environmental assessment
• Pollution
• Adana