The sprawling metropolis of New City, a vibrant hub of commerce and culture, grapples with a complex web of interconnected challenges. Its rapid growth, fueled by both internal migration and an influx of refugees from neighboring countries, has strained its infrastructure and resources. One pressing issue is the escalating problem of plastic waste. The city's inadequate waste management system, exacerbated by poverty and a lack of public awareness, results in overflowing landfills and pervasive plastic pollution across its streets, rivers, and even its once-pristine parks. This environmental crisis is deeply intertwined with the socio-economic fabric of New City. The city's diverse population, composed largely of two dominant ethnic groups—the established majority and a more recent wave of immigrants—often finds itself divided along lines of both class and ethnicity. The immigrants, often relegated to the city's less developed areas, bear a disproportionate burden of the plastic waste crisis. They lack access to proper waste disposal facilities, leading to informal dumping and environmental degradation in their communities. This disparity has fueled resentment and mistrust between the two ethnic groups. The majority group often perceives the immigrants as the primary source of the pollution problem, while the immigrants, in turn, feel neglected and unfairly blamed, pointing to the systemic failures of the city's governance. This fuels ethnic tensions, hindering collaborative efforts to address the waste crisis and further exacerbating existing inequalities. Meanwhile, urban development projects, often prioritizing economic growth over environmental sustainability, frequently displace marginalized communities, compounding the existing social and environmental problems. These projects, intended to modernize the city's image, frequently exacerbate existing tensions by displacing residents with little or no compensation, leading to further social unrest and conflict. Efforts to address these interconnected issues require a holistic approach that tackles environmental sustainability, social justice, and equitable urban development simultaneously. Only through addressing the root causes of both the plastic waste crisis and the underlying social inequalities can New City hope to foster sustainable and harmonious coexistence between its diverse communities.
1. According to the passage, what is the primary factor contributing to the inadequate waste management system in New City?
2. How does the plastic waste crisis exacerbate existing ethnic tensions in New City?
3. What is the author's proposed solution to the interconnected problems facing New City?
4. The passage suggests that urban development projects in New City often prioritize which of the following?