Case study of an urban area: London.

Question 1

What is the current population of London?

Answer 1

8.6 million

Question 2

what is the population expected to grow to by 2050?

Answer 2

11 million

Question 3

What industry, in particular, thrives in London?

Answer 3

The banking and financial sector.

Question 4

What evidence is there that London is a diverse place?

Answer 4

300 languages spoken.
50 non-indeginous communities.
Only 45% are ‘white’.

Question 5

How is London often described, to sum up, its cultural diversity?

Answer 5

‘The world under one roof’.

Question 6

What did the London Fairness Society find about social inequality in London?

Answer 6

For every £1 earned by the bottom 10% the wealthiest, 10% earned £172.
Big gap between rich and poor.

Question 7

What other points could we make about financial inequality?

Answer 7

Richest 10% own 60% of all financial assets.

Question 8

What two boroughs have the highest levels of income inequality?

Answer 8

Kensington and Chelsea.

Question 9

What environmental phenomenon was becoming more common in the early 1900s?

Answer 9

Incidences of smog including Pea Souper 1952.

Question 10

What has been done to decrease incidences of smog?

Answer 10

1956 Clean Air Act.
Low Emission Zone (LEZ) - 2008.
Greener transport.

Question 11

How could we suggest strategies aiming to reduce smog haven’t been that successful?

Answer 11

Nitrogen Dioxide levels still exceed EU limits.

Public Health England - 5.3% of all deaths in over 25-year-olds in the city caused by air pollution.

Question 12

How has the UHI effect impacted London?

Answer 12

10 degrees warmer than surrounding rural area.

Question 13

What impact could the UHI effect have other than health issues?

Answer 13

Increased energy demand to cool homes could lead to ‘Brownouts’.

Question 14

How is London at threat from flooding?

Answer 14

Tidel, fluvial, surface, sewer and groundwater flooding can all affect London. - Climate change could make it worse.

Question 15

How much of London sits on a floodplain?

Answer 15

15%.

Question 16

What examples are there of green transport?

Answer 16

Boris Bikes, 1400 electric car charging points, hydrogen-fuelled busses.

Question 17

What was founded in 2002 to try and make London more sustainable?

Answer 17

The London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC).

Question 18

Outline some of the social developments of the LSDC?

Answer 18

Urban Renewal - Olympics regenerated derelict areas like Newham provided leisure and social housing.
‘Every Child programme’ - offers children the chance to take part in cultural events no matter what background.
Challenge initiative - improve quality of primary education. London schools perform the best!

Question 19

Outline some environmental developments of the LSDC?

Answer 19

Congestion charge - 2003
Green transport (see other cards).
Ultra Low emission zone (ULEZ) wanted by 2020.
Increase urban greening in the centre by 5%

Question 20

LSDC economic developments?

Answer 20

London Living wage - 10,000 lifted out of poverty.
Cross rail to open 2018 - increase transport capacity by 10% hoped it will encourage regeneration.
Newham workplace scheme - since 2007 helped 20,000 find work.

Question 21

How have recent political developments benifited the city?

Answer 21

Position of Lodon Major establishes effective city wide governance. Gives city greater political voice.

Question 22

When was the position of London Major established?

Answer 22

1999- London Authority Act.

Question 23

How much does London want to increase its urban greening scheme by as of 2030?

Answer 23

5% -would reduce flood risk and also mitigate against UHI.