Urban Issues and Challenges Flashcards
What is Urbanisation?
Growth in the proportion of people living in urban areas
How is the rate of urbanisation different in HIC LIC NEE
HIC - Slowest rates, already urbanised, more counter urbanisation and older population leading to less natural increase - usually under 1 %
NEE - Increasing rapidly with some exceptions eg. Brazil which urbanised earlier - Typically around 2%
LIC - Fast rates of urbanisation up to 6%, majority of the population live rural. Urban areas have lower aged populations so natural increase is higher because of increasing birth rates and better life expectancy because of better healthcare than rural. - 6%
What is a megacity?
What is leading to megacities?
Urban areas with a population of over 10 million - currently 34 (2020) compared to 4 in 1975
Fast rates of urbanisation
What causes urbanisation?
Rural-Urban Migration
Natural Increase - birth rates exceed death rates
What percentage of the world’s population lives in urban areas?
55%
Always increasing
What are push factors that lead to urbanisation? x3
Natural disasters - damage property and crops. Rural areas have fewer resources to recover.
Mechanised Agriculture - less work in the primary sector so people move to the city to work in secondary and tertiary sectors.
Desertification - makes land unproductive so farmers can no longer support themselves
What are the pull factors that lead to urbanisation? x4
More and better-paid job opportunities
Better access to health care and educational opportunities
Family members may live in the urban area
Belief that there will be a better quality of life in the urban area
What affects where people live in the UK?
How has it affected distribution of cities?
The relief (shape of the land)
Upland regions sparsely populated - North Scotland
Coastal regions have attracted settlements - Key ports have grown into major cities eg. Liverpool
SE densely populated (lowlands as they are easier to build on) - London
Mineral Wealth - has lead to rapid population growth due industries developing eg Leeds
What is a conurbation?
Towns that have merged to form continuous urban areas with high population densities
Definition of sustainable living?
Living in a way that lets people meet their needs now without reducing the ability for people to meet their needs in the future
State four ways UK cities can become more sustainable.
Water conservation schemes
Energy conservation schemes
Urban greening
Recycling waste
How can we use water conservation increase sustainability?
Only as much water should be taken from the environment as can be naturally replaced
Water conservation reduces water use by:
- Collecting rainwater for flushing toilets and gardens
- Installing water meters that make people pay for the water they use, makes people more conscious
- Installing water efficient toilets
- Encourage people to turn off taps to use less water
Name 4 examples of energy conservation schemes
Promoting renewable energy
Encourage people to make their homes more energy efficient - upgrade insulation + double glazing
Making sure all new homes meet the minium energy efficiency requirement
Encourage people to reduce car use - Public transport
What are the social benefits of urban greening? x2
Ensure cities remain a place that people want to live and work by:
-Providing places where people can relax away from dirty and noisy streets
- Encourage people to exercise more - has economic benefits eg. healthcare
What are the environmental benefits of urban greening? x2 + example
Reduce air pollution by creating pockets of green air
Reduce the risk of flooding by creating permeable surfaces
Leeds is planning to build the biggest urban green space in England; 3.5 hectare AIRE PARK
What are the benefits of recycling waste in cities? x2
Fewer resources need to be made - decreasing pollution
Less waste goes to landfills which is unsustainable - decomposing landfill releases greenhouse gases
Example of sustainable urban living?
How is it sustainable? x6
CITU Leeds
- Located in the inner city allows residents to walk
- Triple glazed windows minimises energy usage - uses 10x less energy than a conventional house
- Solar paneled roofs
- Multigenerational settlement (NOT COMMUTER)
- Rainwater collection - example of water conservation scheme
- Urban greening
Example of a traffic management scheme?
London Congestion charge
Why was the London Congestion charge needed? x3
Low air quality
High traffic
High number of accidents
How does the London congestion charge work?
Works in a 22km^2 area in Central London
£15 daily charge with £750 - £1500 charge if breached
Uses cameras and number plate recognition
Advantages and disadvantages of the London congestion charge?
Advantages
Produced much revenue for improving the public transport due to fines
Improved air quality
More people using PT
Disadvantages
Disadvantaged businesses due to reduced trade
May argue that as it is such a small area it has not made any significant difference to London’s air quality
What are the environmental, social and economic issues of traffic congestion?
Environmental: increased air pollution and release of greenhouse gases
Social: Higher chance of accidents and health issues due to pollution
Economic: Congestion makes people late for work causing individuals and businesses to lose money
In 2013 what percentage of UK people lived in towns and cities?
What percentage was it in 1953
83
79
Where is the most energy-efficient city in the world?
Why?
Reykjavik Iceland
Developed geothermal and hydroelectric power
