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less than half the population has access electricity. At the same time, residents in some Asia-Pacific cities with high numbers of people in poverty (like Manila) pay the highest electricity tariffs in the region.
increase in the urban population, with its associated demands for improved provision, will continue to overwhelm urban gov ernments. In countries facing aging populations, there will be increased demand by dependent people for particular services.
The private car remains the main transport mode in high income countries. Some cit ies have introduced rail-based rapid transit and bus rapid transit systems, but tariffs are usually too high for low income people. An alarming trend in many Asia-Pacific cities is the rapid increase in the use of motorcycles and three wheelers, which are associated with high accident rates and road congestion.
Many of the economies of Asia-Pacific countries, especially those that are export oriented, are vulnerable to global econom ic crises. Countries fearful of local gov ernments’ independent spending are likely to re-centralize authority and power in the context of economic crises. This, in turn, will weaken the ability of local governments to provide services.
Solid waste management continues to be a problem in the region, despite the fact that, on average, each person generates only 1.05 kg of waste per day, compared to 4.0 kg per day in North America. Only about 63% of local governments in Asia-Pacific have solid waste management programs.
Delivery of basic services in Asia- Pacific will be seriously challenged by environmental problems, particularly rising sea levels and destructive weather events. Many Asia-Pacific countries are located in the “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes and other disasters are
2% 23%
Japan Bangladesh
Proportion of the 2011 population that gained access to drinking-water sources since 1995 (%) Source: Progress on Sanitation on Drinking-Water. 2013 Update. World Health Organization - Unicef.
Many cities rely on open dumps rather than sanitary landfills. The problem is particularly acute in slum areas, which are seldom served by municipal systems.
frequent. Some Pacific Island countries are losing land to rising sea levels. Port cities in the Asia-Pacific are also vulnerable to rising sea levels and weather-r elated disasters.
Existing and emerging challenges While population growth has been declin ing in the Asia Pacific region, the persistent
Economic and social inequality among social groups, and between growing and lagging areas, is widening in the Asia-Pacific. The