Case Study - London, Freiburg & Rio de Janeiro

Question 1

London - employment

Answer 1

• higher proportion working in tertiary/quaternary sectors
• major world financial centre

Question 2

London - cultural significance

Answer 2

• cultural attractions and tourism; e.g., Buckingham Palace, Natural History Museum

Question 3

London - challenges with urban growth

Answer 3

• atmospheric pollution
• health/employment inequalities
• waste disposal
• housing/education inequalities
• loss of green spaces due to urban sprawl
• de-industrialisation

Question 4

London - urban regeneration

Answer 4

• London 2012 Olympics
• long-term benefits and improved QoL
• Olympic site used 560 acres of brownfield land, which was otherwise unused
• £9bn+ investment, mostly into infrastructure
• new green spaces and wildlife habitats

Question 5

Freiburg - location & background

Answer 5

• SW Germany
• population around 220,000
• focus on social, economic and environmental sustainability

Question 6

Freiburg - social sustainability

Answer 6

• focus on providing affordable housing
• local people involved in urban planning
• building sites considered by both local council and interest groups
• cycle and walking paths encourage exercise and healthy living

Question 7

Freiburg - economic sustainability

Answer 7

• many jobs in research and manufacture of solar technology
• 10,000 employed in 1500 environmental businesses
• conferences on sustainability provide jobs for locals

Question 8

Freiburg - environmental sustainability

Answer 8

• financial rewards given for composting green waste
• locals encouraged to invest in renewables
• biogas energy for 28,000 homes
• more than 88% of packing waste recycled
• 44,000 trees planted; green spaces and reduces pollution
• rainwater retained and reused

Question 9

Freiburg - sustainable traffic

Answer 9

• integrated public transport strategy updated every 10 years
• tram network; cheap and accessible
• 400km of cycle paths; 9000 parking spaces
• restrictions on car parking spaces (£20,000 per car park space in one area)

Question 10

Freiburg - success of traffic management

Answer 10

• tram journeys increased by 25,000 in one year
• car journeys decreased by around 30,000

Question 11

Freiburg - sustainable water

Answer 11

• rainwater collected for indoor use
• green roofs look attractive and harvest rainwater
• pavements allow rainwater to soak through
• unpaved tramways
• drainage wetlands
• river managed with flood retention basins; excess water stored and used

Question 12

Freiburg - sustainable energy

Answer 12

• strict policies on: energy saving, efficient technology, and use of renewables
• 100% renewable by 2050
  
  • 400 solar panel installations
  • biomass using waste wood and rapeseed oil
  • biogas from organic waste heats city’s three swimming pools

Question 13

Freiburg - green spaces

Answer 13

• help to reduce the air pollution
• soil protected; prevents surface runoff and flood risk
• wildlife; recreational resource
• 44% wood used for timber; 75% grows back in a year
• 44,000 trees planted

Question 14

Rio - location & background

Answer 14

• Brazil, S. America
• second most populated city in Brazil
• high levels of rural-urban migration

Question 15

Rio - regional, national and global significance

Answer 15

• 2nd most important industrial centre in Brazil
• Statue of Christ the Redeemer; Seven New Wonders of the World
• one of most visited in southern hemisphere

Question 16

Rio - social challenges

Answer 16

• half of population has no access to local health clinic
• lack of schools; only half of children educated beyond 14
• no running water for 12% population
• high crime rates
• high unemployment in favelas

Question 17

Rio - economic challenges

Answer 17

• blackouts from frequent power cuts
• wide rich/poor gap in wages
• most people in favelas work in informal sector

Question 18

Rio - environmental challenges

Answer 18

• heavy pollution due to industrialisation and poor sanitation
• squatter settlements usually built on unstable hilltops

Question 19

Rio - urban opportunities

Answer 19

• one of highest incomes per person in Brazil
• 6% of Brazil’s total employment
• improving access to services e.g., education and healthcare
• growth of industrial areas increases economic development
• industrialisation increases city’s wealth

Question 20

Rio - Favela Bairro Project

Answer 20

• improve and upgrade QoL in favelas
• rehousing people in new basic housing
• developing new areas for rehousing
• enforcing evictions in some favelas for development
• self-help schemes to redevelop housing
• anti-crime programs for youths

Question 21

Rio - social improvements

Answer 21

• mobile health clinics to reduce infant mortality
• seven new water treatment plants (1998-2014) due to poor water quality
• new HEP complex increases Rio’s electricity supply by 30% (reduces need to illegally tap into mains supply)
• school grants given to poor families to increase levels of school enrolment

Question 22

Rio - environmental improvements

Answer 22

• new toll roads and one-way roads to reduce congestion during rush hours
• 5km of new sewage in polluted areas to reduce water pollution
• power plant consumes 30 tonnes of rubbish daily, producing electricity for 1000 homes

Question 23

Rio - challenges in squatter settlements

Answer 23

• construction is dangerous and often illegal
• high unemployment rates
• high crime rates
• high population density causes poor health
• lack of development of services, like education and healthcare