Challenges In The Human Environment - London Flashcards
Location of London
Located in the south-east of England near the River Thames
Background facts for London
Population - 8.7 million in 2015
Leading global city for industry, education and finance
Most visited city in the world
London’s national importance
The UK’s largest and wealthiest city
Earnings and house prices have risen faster in London
London’s international importance
One of the most important financial sectors in the world
Headquarters for many large international companies
Social challenges
Housing inequalities - house prices in London are greater than everywhere else in the UK
Education - overall attainment in London schools are the same as the rest of the UK
Health - people with poor English skills cannot access healthcare
Urban sprawl - new buildings are being constructed on greenfield sites
Migration - 1/3 of all migration in the UK is to London due to job oppurtunties
Economic challenges
Industry - as the docks closed, the manufacturing industry declined
Pay inequality - London has the most unequal pay distribution in the UK, 21% of London’s population are paid below the London living wage
Unemployment - closure of factories equals high unemployment in parts of inner London
Environmental challenges
Dereliction - as the manufacturing industry has declined, land has been left in dereliction
Waste disposal - a large urban population leads to a lot of household waste for disposal
Pollution - atmospheric pollution from industry and vehicles
Social opportunities
Education - top universities (Oxford), high attainment of grades
Entertainment + culture - London is an international centre for sporting events, theatre and museums
Economic opportunities
Industry - the number of jobs in the financial sector has risen
Transport - HS2 from London to Manchester, Crossrail and expansion of a new runway at Heathrow Airport
Tourism - London is the most visited city in the world and attracts tourists due to entertainment
Environmental opportunities
Reuse of industrial land - brownfield sites have become available for development
Transport - transport systems aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% in 2025
Regeneration - London’s Docklands have been regenerated alongside the Olympic site
London’s Dockland regeneration facts
Spent £10 billion
From 1981 to 1988
Why did the area need regeneration
To improve the local area
Provide more jobs
Increase tourism
Main features of the project
The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connected the area to the London Underground
New cultural venues (O2 arena)
The construction of the Olympic Stadium
New office developments at Canary Wharf
London City Airport - short take-off and landing airport (STOL)
