2-A Urban Issues and Challenges Flashcards
What is the overall global pattern of urban change?
Urbanisation is happening in countries all over the world - more than 50% live in urban areas and this is increasing every day. By 2050, it is predicted that most people will live in urban areas
What are the urban trends found in LICs?
35% of the population live in urban areas.
But, they have the fastest rates of urbanisation in the world
Areas of large rural populations are predicted to continue urbanisation at the fastest rate
What are the urban trends found in HICs?
Urbanisation happened earlier in developed countries (e.g. Industrial Revolution) and 79% of their population live in urban areas already.
Developed countries have very slow rates of urban growth
How have the number of megacities and world cities changed over time?
1950 there were two megacities - Tokyo and NY
2014 there were 28 world cities - 2/3 of current megacities are in poorer countries
1950 there were four megacities - Ldn, Paris, Tokyo, NY
Now numbers have increased. Hard to say how many there are, but most are still in developed countries
Why has urbanisation occurred?
Push Factors
- Mechanisation of agricultural equipment (less jobs)
- Natural disasters can damage property, which people can’t afford to repair
Pull Factors
- More jobs in urban areas that are better paid
- Access to better health care
Natural Increase
- Birth rate tends to be higher in urban areas as there are more young people. These people have children, which increase the urban population
- Better health care in urban areas means that people live longer too
Where is Lagos and what is its importance?
Lagos is a megacity in Nigeria (an emerging country and the richest country in Africa). It is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world (pop. is over 21 mill)
- It has a large port as it is has the massive Lagos Lagoon on the western coast of Nigeria.
- It has an international port and airport making it important regionally and globally for trade
- It is Nigeria’s biggest city for population and business. It is the main financial centre for the whole of West Africa.
Why has Lagos’ population grown rapidly?
Push Factors
- Chad and Niger (bordering countries) are poor and involved in conflict, so many people flee
- Lots of migration from the North of Nigeria where there is lots of ethnic and religious conflict
Pull Factors
- The government financed lots of construction projects (e.g. ports, airports and oil refineries), which attracted many workers
- Historically, it was under British rule in colonial times, so it was a centre of trade, which attracted traders and merchants.
Natural Increase
- Rate of natural increase is high - birth rates are still higher than death rates
How do people in Lagos have more opportunities?
Economic Opportunities
- Incomes are about 4 times higher in Lagos than those in rural areas. Informal sector allows everyone to make money
- Rapid population growth means that there are lots of construction jobs
Social Opportunities
- There are more health care centres and hospitals
- They have more access to higher education - Lagos has 6 universities
- It is possible to access electricity and water networks, as well as TV and the internet
How has urban growth created challenges?
Squatter Settlements (over 60% live in them)
- They are flimsy, wooden huts that are illegally built
- They have high levels of crime as they are often patrolled by gangs called ‘area boys’
Traffic Congestion (they can be worst in the world)
- Public transport is limited (there are plans to improve it)
- The CBD is on an island with only 3 bridges linking to it
Limited Service Provision
- There aren’t enough schools (only one primary school in Makoko and many families can’t afford it)
- There aren’t enough health care facilities and they are expensive
Poor Employment Conditions
- Aren’t enough formal jobs, so people make money in their own way e.g. scavenging in rubbish dumps
- About 60% work in the informal sector, which does not provide protection for the workers
Waste Disposal
- Most of the city doesn’t have access to proper sewers. Most of the waste often goes straight to the lagoon, which causes health problems
- Only 40% of rubbish is officially collected and the large rubbish dumps contain toxic waste from factories
Water Supply
- Only 40% is connected to the state water supply
- Pipes are old and rusty, so the water is often contaminated
What is an example of how urban planning is improving the quality of life for the urban poor?
Improving Water Supply
- The government has begun work on a US$2.5 bill plan to make new water treatment plants and distribution networks
- Water kiosks have been introduced where people can buy water at a lower price than the informal water sellers
How is the UK population distributed?
It is uneven. The south east, which includes the city of London, has a much greater population that the highlands of Scotland.
Also, the population is not evenly distributed amongst the four countries. England makes up about 84% of the UK’s population and Northern Ireland makes up for less than 3%
Where is London located and what is its importance as a city in the UK and the wider world?
London is sited on the flat floodplain of the River Thames in the South East of England.
Importance within the UK
- It is essential for the UK’s economy as 20% of the UK’s income comes from London
- It is the centre of the UK’s transport system as it has two major international airports and has easy access to mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel
Global Importance
- It is a world city and one of the two most important financial centres in the world.
- There are more foreign banks in London than anywhere else
How has London been impacted by national and international migration?
The population of London is now over 8.5 million people and it is growing due to:
National Migration - within the UK, young adults move to the city for work or to study
International Migration - net migration to London in 2014 was 100 thousand people
How has national and international migration impacted the character of the city?
Age Structure - there is a higher percentage of young people than people over 65 in inner city London
Ethnicity - there is a higher level of ethnic diversity in inner city areas (e.g 52% of people in Newham are foreign born)
Population - high immigration rates increase the population and there is an increase of the population of child-bearing age people, so natural increase increases
Services - there is an increasing demand for services in inner city areas. However, these areas are often amongst the poorest parts of the city, so it is difficult to provide what is needed
How has urban change created opportunities?
Social Opportunities
- Gentrification - there is an increase of wealthier people and small businesses in run down areas
- Studentified - there is an increase in students, which causes an increase in services and entertainment venues
- The Olympics has brought investment to the East End, which now has new transport links and the athletes village
Economic Opportunities
- The growth of finance and business services has revitalised the CBD. It is now a global centre for banking, insurance and law companies
- TNCs often set up their headquarters in London, which cement London’s identity as a global city
Environmental Opportunities
- Urban Greening - green spaces provide environmental benefits and social benefits. London is 40% public green space with lots of parks in the city centre
