A conurbation, like Greater London, comprises a number of cities that have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area.

Many of the problems raised by overpopulation are explored in the 1973 science fiction film Soylent Green, where people suffer from food shortages, depleted resources and poverty.

In the U.S. you find ghost towns, which are deserted because of the closing down of factories.

Some people prefer out-of-town shopping centres also called malls. Others prefer centrally located shops, where they can walk from one place to another.

The global urban population comprises today ca 4 billion. It is estimated that it will grow to 6.5 billion by 2050. This raises a number of issues. Take Delhi for instance. The population of the capital city of India is around 18 million and it is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. According to The Times of India nearly half of Delhi’s population lives in slums, with limited access to basic services like safe drinking water, electricity, sanitation or sewage system. There is a high incidence of diseases such as diarrhoea and anaemia. Delhi is considered to be the most polluted city in the world. With a projected population of 25 million by 2030, how could this city cope with even more people and slums?