Urban Issues and Challenges 2 - Rio de Janeiro

Question 1

What is Rio de Janeiro our case study of?

Answer 1

A major city in an NEE as an example of urban growth.

Question 2

Describe the location of Rio de Janeiro.

Answer 2

-Rio de Janeiro is located on the continent of South America, in the South East of Brazil, which lies on the Atlantic coast.

-It has grown up around a large natural bay called Guanabara bay.

Question 3

What is the importance of Rio de Janeiro regionally?

Answer 3

-The city provides schools, universities, jobs, leisure, and hospitals

-This means that it gives residents many opportunities from higher education to good healthcare

-Which means that they can access a good quality of life at varied stages of life

Question 4

What is the importance of Rio de Janeiro nationally?

Answer 4

-Manufacturing industries in Rio de Janeiro produce a variety of products from pharmaceuticals to clothing

-This means that the city is an important area for industry in Brazil (the 2nd most important after Sao Paulo, producing 5% of the country’s gross domestic product)

-Which means that Rio de Janeiro is an important contributor to Brazil’s economy.

Question 5

What is the importance of Rio de Janeiro nationally? (EXTRAS)

Answer 5

-Homes the headquarters for many of Brazil’s important mining, oil and telecommunications companies

-Was the capital of Brazil until 1960 and still is culturally

-Is an essential centre for research due to the universities and research labs located in the city.

Question 6

What is the importance of Rio de Janeiro internationally/globally? - ECONOMIC

Answer 6

-Rio de Janeiro is a major international transport hub, with 5 docks and 3 airports.

-This means that the city is an important centre for global trade

-Exports include the sugar, coffee, and iron ore produced in Brazil (The Port of Rio de Janeiro is essential for this)

-From these exports, money is brought into Brazil which can be invested into development

Question 7

What is the importance of Rio de Janeiro internationally/globally? - SOCIAL

Answer 7

-Rio De Janeiro hosted the 2016 Olympic/Paralympic games and 2014 World cup.

-This means that Brazilian culture was televised

-Which increased the cultural awareness of many and encouraged tourism.

Question 8

One of the biggest music and dance festivals in the world happens annually in Rio de Janeiro.

What is the name of this festival?

Answer 8

The Rio Carnival

Question 9

What nation does Rio belong to?

Answer 9

Brazil

Question 10

What are some of Rio de Janeiro’s tourist attractions?

Answer 10

-White beaches such as Copacabana and Ipamena

-Iconic landmarks such as Sugarloaf mountain and the “Christ the Redeemer” statue (7 wonder, ≈2 million visitors/year)

Question 11

Why was Brasilia created as the capital of Brazil in 1960?

(by the government)

Answer 11

-In an attempt to encourage economic growth further inland

-To reduce power consumption on the coast

Question 12

What is the population of Rio De Janeiro’s inner city

Answer 12

≈6.6 million

Question 13

What is the population of Rio De Janeiro, including all the metropolitan areas?

Answer 13

≈13.5 million

Question 14

Briefly outline why Rio de Janeiro has become a global city.

Answer 14

-Due to its importance in the global economy as major industrial and financial centre.

(housing many important companies and industries)

-Natural increase

Question 15

What are the causes of Rio de Janeiro’s growth?

Answer 15

-Rural to urban migration

-Natural increase

Question 16

How much has Rio’s population grown in the past 50 years?

Answer 16

It has nearly trebled, to become a major industrial and financial centre and the 2nd largest city after Sao Paulo.

Question 17

Metropolitan area

Answer 17

The surrounding urban area under the same local government.

Question 18

Over the past 150 years, migration has been responsible for what percentage of Rio’s population growth?

Answer 18

65%

Question 19

Causes of Rio de Janeiro’s growth - Natural increase.

Answer 19

-It tends to be younger generations who migrate to the city for economic opportunities, which leads to a high fertility rate

-There are also better quality healthcare services in the city than in rural areas

-This means that there is less risk of people dying, which means that life expectancy is longer.

-Infant mortality is also lower.

-So, there is a higher birth rate than death rate (in Rio de Janeiro) leading to a ‘natural increase’ in the population.

(&thus the growth of the city).

Question 20

Causes of Rio de Janeiro’s growth - Rural to Urban migration

(FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES)

Answer 20

Rio’s industrial and tourist sectors have grown hugely.

For example, the headquarters of Petrobras and CVBB (Brazil’s largest oil and mining companies) are now located in Rio. (in a financial centre)

This means that people are attracted to the city for jobs - ones which mean that they can earn higher and improve their quality of life.

People migrate from other areas of Brazil (like the Amazon Basin), other countries in South America (like Argentina), and from abroad (like China, South Korea) for this reason.

More skilled jobs on offer also attract Westerners from the USA and UK.

Question 21

Causes of Rio de Janeiro’s growth - Rural to Urban migration

(FOR CULTURAL REASONS)

Answer 21

The common language in Rio de Janeiro is Portuguese, as Portugal is Brazil’s former colonial power (late 1800s).

This means that the city attracts migrants from Portugal.

It is known as the largest “Portuguese city”.

Question 22

Why is 55% of Rio de Janeiro’s population from European descent?

Answer 22

-Colonised by the Portuguese

-A labour shortage in the late 20th century drove many Germans to work in Brazil’s coffee plantations

Question 23

Causes of Rio de Janeiro’s growth - Rural to Urban migration

(EXTRAS)

Answer 23

-The living conditions in many other areas of Brazil are poor.

-This means that many migrate to Rio de Janeiro for access to better sanitation systems

-Which means a reduction in their risk of sickness and an increase in life expectancy.

Question 24

2/3 of the city’s population increase is due to what?

Answer 24

International migration to Rio’s favelas.

Question 25

Why do favelas exist?

Answer 25

People end up in favelas because there is a lack of housing for Rio’s rapidly growing population.

Question 26

What are favelas?

Answer 26

Informal, often illegal settlements, often built in undesirable areas.

Question 27

Enslaved people from African nations were forcibly brought to Brazil during what period?

Answer 27

The colonial period.

Question 28

Between 1960 and 2000, how much did the population of Rio de Janeiro increase by?

Answer 28

115.3%

Question 29

Causes of Rio de Janeiro’s growth - Rural to Urban migration

(FOR POLITICAL REASONS)

Answer 29

In countries like Syria and Lebanon, there is political and economic instability.

This means that people flee to countries like Brazil for safety.

Question 30

What are the challenges created by urban growth in Rio de Janeiro? - SOCIAL

Answer 30

-managing urban growth in the favelas

-providing clean water, sanitation systems, and energy

-providing access to health and education services

Question 31

What are the challenges created by urban growth in Rio de Janeiro? - SOCIAL - managing urban growth in the favelas

Answer 31

-Residents (millions!) forced to construct their own homes from scrap materials such as corrugated iron, metals, or wood.

-TMT there is often no sewage or waste disposal system in place, and few taps - shared between many families, which means that sanitation is poor. Diseases like cholera are common.

This is only going to get worse because the population in the favelas is increasing at the same rate as the rest of Rio’s population.

There is little access to healthcare and education services due to location.

Crime and unemployment rates are high

Question 32

Where are Rio de Janeiro’s favelas located?

Answer 32

-On the outskirts of the city because only this land is available to build on within the city limits.

-Furthermore, much of Rio’s industry is located on the edge of the city hence many people locate close to the factories for jobs

-Some are 40/50km from the city centre, up steep hillsides/by main roads

Question 33

By what processes are favelas created and then improved?

Answer 33

Invasion, consolidation, upgrading, and assimilation.

Question 34

Invasion

(favela creation and then improvement step 1)

Answer 34

1- Migrants too poor to live in formal settlements settle on undesirable (e.g. risk of flooding), often illegal land.

They build shanty houses out of scrap materials from dump sites WMT sanitation and quality of life are poor.

There’s little access to healthcare and education services.

Question 35

Consolidation

(favela creation and then improvement step 2)

Answer 35

2- People decide they want to improve the conditions so self-build better homes (e.g. by saving for bricks).

Services like shops and schools can uprise (but without planning permission)

People look for jobs but often in the informal sector e.g. rubbish collectors/street vendors.

The favela grows up as a community.

Question 36

Upgrading

(favela creation and then improvement step 3)

Answer 36

3- Houses develop further, becoming more sustainable.

Schools are completed so children have access to an education.

Families rely on all members including children to make an income but it gets easier to survive due to the uprising community.

Question 37

Assimilation

Answer 37

4- Things become more permanent e.g. housing is much better quality and schooling is established.

Question 38

By assimilation etc. around urban areas what is this an example of?

Answer 38

How urban industrial areas can be as stimulus for economic development.

This is because the favelas often emerge on the outskirts around factories.

Question 39

How can urban areas be a stimulus for economic development?

Answer 39

Through the positive multiplier effect.

Question 40

Give an example of the positive multiplier effect in Rio de Janeiro. (economic opportunity)

Answer 40

Industry in Rio de Janeiro has grown e.g. of petrochemicals due to the discovery of oil off the coast.

This increased the number of local workers employed which meant that the government is paid more tax directly, and through tax revenues by increased spending of disposable income.

Consequently, there is more money available to invest into improving infrastructure (like roads/rails) and services (like education/healthcare).

This encourages more businesses (including TNCs like shell) to move in creating an economic growth cycle.

Question 41

Social challenges created by urban growth - providing clean water

Answer 41

-12% of Rio’s population did not have access to running water before 2014

-37% is lost due to leaky pipes (caused by fraud if the poor drill into pipes illegally)

-Despite improvements, recent drought has increased the pressure on water supply because reservoirs have dried up

-For example, Santa Branca reservoir produced under 40% of its useful volume for Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in 2021-2022

F R A U D U L E N T

Question 42

Social opportunities created by urban growth - providing access to clean water

Answer 42

Rio knew they were to host the 2016 Olympics/Paralympics and the 2014 World cup - both major sporting events with many visiting spectators.

This encouraged the authorities to improve access to clean water, particularly in the favelas and in the Olympic Park where 300km of pipes were laid.

Also, 7 new treatment plants came into action between 1998 and 2014 which provided a source of clean water for many.

Which meant that by 2014, 95% of Rio’s population had access to a mains water supply.

Question 43

Where was Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic park located?

Answer 43

Barra da Tijuca in the West zone

Question 44

Social challenges in Rio de Janeiro - providing sanitation systems

Answer 44

-Many people have no access to flushing toilets so are forced to use pits instead

-This means their sewerage drains into the soil (polluting groundwater), or pours into open drains and rivers

-Which means that many of Rio’s rivers and Guanabara Bay itself are heavily polluted with raw sewerage – an estimated 200 tonnes per day

Question 45

Why is the heavy pollution of Guanabara bay a challenge?

Answer 45

-It’s a threat to wildlife

-It’s likely to affect Ipanema and Copacabana beaches which would reduce tourism and hence damage the economy

Question 46

Social challenges in Rio de Janeiro - providing energy

Answer 46

-There are energy shortages in the city – the growing population and demands of the 2016 Olympics made the situation worse

-This means that there are frequent blackouts

-Which means that the productivity of hospitals, schools, and industry is slowed

-Many people in poorer part of Rio illegally tap into the main supply which is unsafe with the risk of electrocution and fires/ more blackouts

Question 47

Social opportunities created by urban growth - providing energy

Answer 47

The “Simplicio Hydroelectric Complex” is being constructed at the Paraiba do Sul River (south east Brazil)

It came into operation in 2013 and the hope is that it means Rio’s electricity supply should increase by 30%.

Which means that electricity supplies should become more reliable.

60km of new power lines were also installed which means that energy supply is more reliable than in rural areas.

So, residents are less likely to tap into power supplies illegally.

Question 48

What is the name of the new nuclear generator being built in Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 48

Angra Nuclear power plant, scheduled to be completed in 2028.

Question 49

Social challenges caused by urban growth - providing healthcare

Answer 49

-Favelas are often in difficult locations

-TMT not only are there poor provisions and facilities but little access to healthcare elsewhere,

-Which means that diseases are common and life expectancy is low

Question 50

Social opportunities caused by urban growth - providing healthcare

Answer 50

-The government has invested in healthcare provisions like hospitals and medical kits

-This means that people in Rio have improved access to the medical care they need, in particular emergency care and vaccinations.

-Which means that IMR has fallen and LE has increased of importance to the vulnerable (young and elderly)

-Healthcare is now significantly better than in the rural areas of Brazil.

Question 51

Healthcare challenges example

Answer 51

-Favela “Cidada de Deus” (or “City of God”) in the West zone

-Services for pregnant women and the elderly were very poor

-IMR was 21 per 1000 and LE was 45

-Only 60% of pregnant women were getting medical care

Question 52

In 2013, what % of Rio’s population had access to a family health clinic?

Answer 52

55%

Question 53

Healthcare improvements example

Answer 53

-Medical staff took medical kits to people’s homes in the favela of Santa Marta, where transport is a barrier to care

-They were able to detect 20 disease and treat them.

-As a result IMR has fallen and LE has increased

Question 54

Social challenges caused by urban growth - providing education

Answer 54

-There is a lack of schools and teachers (due to low pay and little training required)

-Furthermore, many children need to work to improve their family income

-This means that there are low levels of school enrolment, with only 50% continuing education beyond the compulsory 14 years of age

-Which reduces their future employment opportunities and reduces direct tax for government

Question 55

What ages is schooling compulsory in Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 55

6-14 years

Question 56

Social opportunities caused by urban growth - providing education

Answer 56

Rio’s local authorities have invested in the education system, for example by providing poor families with school grants.

This investment means that education is accessible to the less wealthy, increasing children’s likelihood of completing education.

Which has enabled 95% of children aged 10 and above to be literate in Rio - considerably higher than the national average.

Question 57

What (apart from school grants) has the government made money available for education wise?

Answer 57

Extracurricular activities like sports to give a better quality of life.

Question 58

Economic challenges caused by urban growth - reducing crime

Answer 58

-School dropouts often get drawn into drug trafficking and gangs to make an income and support their families

-This means that crime rates are high in the favelas

-Which makes them dangerous particularly at night

-Crime include drug trafficking robbery, vandalism, armed assault, car jacking, kidnapping and murder

Question 59

Reducing crime

Answer 59

In 2013, Pacifying Police Units were established to address the problem of crime in the favelas for the local community.

Question 60

When did violence erupt again in the favelas and why?

Answer 60

January 2018

Many blame the economic recession of 2015 which increased unemployment and caused a cut in police numbers on the streets

Question 61

Economic challenges caused by urban growth - reducing unemployment

Answer 61

-1/3 of Rio’s 3.5 million strong workforce work in the ‘informal sector’ (street vending, sewing, car washing, wasted recycling) etc.

-These jobs are poorly paid, and unregulated so workers do not have employee benefits like insurance

-While people work in this sector they do not pay taxes. This means no multiplier effect or investment in services by government

-All this means that quality of life cannot improve

Question 62

What % of people in Rio are unemployed?

Answer 62

20%

Many are unemployed because the favelas are far from the city centre (where the CBD is located)

Question 63

What might unemployed people turn to?

Answer 63

Crime

Question 64

Reducing unemployment example (FB poroject)

Answer 64

The ‘Schools for Tomorrow’ programme is using education to teach practical skills to the young (and adults) living in deprived areas

-TMT they’ll be able to read and write, meaning they’ll have opportunities for formal employment where they can earn a higher income

-WM more people working in this sector, driving the multiplier effect and taxes

-Hence driving investment by government to improve peoples quality of life

-Free child care is provided to enable teenage parents to return to education

Question 65

What is the government using to reduce youth unemployment?

Answer 65

Education

Question 66

Informal sector/informal economy

Answer 66

Working in jobs which are outside the official knowledge of the government.

Question 67

What are the social opportunities in Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 67

-Access to services (health and education)

-Access to resources (water supply and energy).

Question 68

What are the economic challenges of urban growth in Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 68

-reducing unemployment and crime

Question 69

What are the environmental problems of urban growth in Rio de Janeiro?

Answer 69

Managing:

-traffic congestion
-air pollution
-water pollution
-waste disposal

Question 70

What do shootouts prevent?

Answer 70

-Children from going to school

-This means they have less employment opportunities in the future.

Question 71

Environmental challenges caused by urban growth - traffic congestion

Answer 71

-The umber of cars in Rio has increased by 40% in the last decade.

-Tunnels necessary for navigation through steep hillsides, create bottle necks.

-Rio is now the most congested city in the southern hemisphere

-Congestion increases air pollution and stress, and wastes time for commuters and businesses.

Question 72

Environmental challenges caused by urban growth - air pollution

Answer 72

-Mist from the Atlantic mixes with vehicle exhaust fumes and pollutants from factory chimneys
causing a “brown smog”

-The situation is made worse by heavy traffic congestion

-Air pollution causes 5000 deaths a year

Question 73

Environmental challenges caused by urban growth - water pollution

Answer 73

-Poor sanitation systems

-(So) The many rivers that flow into the Guanabara bay are polluted by run of from the favelas.

-Open sewers cause 200 tonnes of raw sewage to be poured into the Bay each day

-50 tonnes of industrial waste also enters the bay per day.

Question 74

Environmental challenges caused by urban growth - waste disposal

Answer 74

The worst problems are in the favelas – many are built on steep slopes and few have proper roads.

This means that access for waste collection lorries is difficult.

Which means that most waste is dumped, polluting water sources which causes diseases like cholera and encourages rats.

Question 75

How many tonnes of solid waste does Rio generate per year?

Answer 75

≈ 3.5 million tonnes

Question 76

What are solutions to Rio de Janeiro’s waste disposal problem?

Answer 76

-‘Pickers’ (informal sector) can operate on landfill sites to sort and recover materials for use

• Landfill Gas is actively collected as source of energy (which can be used as fuel for vehicles or converted to electricity for other uses)

-A new biogas (methane) power plant is being set up to consume 30 tonnes of rubbish a day and produce enough electricity for 1000 homes (can help the blackout problem too!)

Question 77

What are the solutions to Rio’s water pollution problem?

Answer 77

-Overseas aid has been used to reduce the amount of sewage being release into the bay

-12 new sewerage works have been built since 2004 at a cost of US$68 million

Question 78

What are solutions to Rio’s traffic congestion/air pollution problem?

Answer 78

-Expansion of the metro system underneath Guanabara bay to the South zone and Barra de Tijuca

-New toll roads into the central city

Question 79

Positive effects of cleaning the bay

Answer 79

-Less water pollution could increase commercial fishing (of which there’s been a 90% decline in the past 20 years), increasing the supply of food + less malnourished people = more schooled and employed

Question 80

What is out example of how “urban planning is improving the quality of life for the urban poor”?

Answer 80

The Favela Bairro Project

Question 81

What is the Favela Bairro project?

Answer 81

An urban planning project created to improve Rio’s favelas.

Question 82

Favela Bairro project date

Answer 82

1994 - 2008

Question 83

What was the aim of the Favela Bairro project?

Answer 83

The authorities set aside £200 million with the aim of converting slum neighbourhoods like Rocinha to provide residents with a better quality of life.

Question 84

What are the 8 parts of the Favela Bairro project?

Answer 84

-Improving infrastructure
-Removing unsafe houses
-The instillation of a cable car
-Site and Service scheme
-Self-help schemes
-Police pacifying units
-Health and Leisure centres
-Education

Question 85

Favela Bairro project - Improving infrastructure

Answer 85

Streets and roads have been widened and paved.

This means improved access to many areas of the favelas

Which means that it’s easier to trade goods and services, and remove waste.

-Prevents the spread of fires
-Provides construction jobs

Question 86

Favela Bairro project - Removing unsafe houses

Answer 86

Houses on steep slopes, which were at risk of landslides, have been removed.

The residents have been relocated to safer areas, which means they are less at risk.

Question 87

Favela Bairro project - Education

Answer 87

-Adult education and training schemes were introduced including night classes

-Volunteers were encouraged to teach in the favelas

-The free education programme

Question 88

Favela Bairro project - Instillation of a cable car

Answer 88

In 2011, a cable car was installed at the top of the largest favela - Rocinha

This meant that residents have increased access to the CBD for work (a 2 hour walk reduced to a 16 minute journey)

Which means that they can earn well whilst maintaining good health (not getting up ridiculously early)

-Free return ticket/ day so residents can afford to commute
-Increased connectivity with bus and rail links

Question 89

Favela Bairro project - Site and Service scheme

Answer 89

-A project was undertaken by the authorities to relocate residents into brick houses with electricity, running water, and sanitation pipes

-This means that less people are sick and so less money will be spent on healthcare

-Residents can apply to own property

-This also means that the economy will improve due to land and insurance taxes

Question 90

Favela Bairro project - Self-help schemes

Answer 90

-In the favela of Rocinha (and some others), the government donated residents building materials like cement and ‘breeze blocks’ (concrete)

-This meant that they could improve their housing to become more sustainable (upgrading stage) for example, wood replaced with brick and improved roads

-Which meant that connections improved and infrastructure was safer in the case of a natural disaster

-The favela is much more appealing to tourists

Question 91

Favela Bairro project - Police pacifying units (2013)

Answer 91

Highly trained military were sent into start the pacification process and take control of the favelas.

They did this with the main aim of reducing crime and building ties with the local communities.

They took control of “complex de Alemao” and 30 other smaller favelas previously controlled by criminal gangs

Increased police presence (over 300 officers) has lowered crime rates and even led to tourism in the favelas

People now feel safer and have built trust with the police

-There has been a small reduction in death rate

Question 92

Favela Bairro project - Health and leisure centres

Answer 92

Health centres were introduced to support those with drug and alcohol abuse

This meant that their health was improved, which meant a more viable workforce and less strain on hospitals.

Day care centres were introduced to allow parents with children to work.

This meant that they could earn money which boosted the economy.

If the children are educated they can earn even better and leave the favelas.

Question 93

Rocinha

Answer 93

-Largest favela in Rio de Janeiro
-Built on a steep hillside overlooking the city
-approx. 1 km from the beach (tourism?)
-population = 60,000-150,000 (possibly more)

Question 94

What is proof that the Favela Bairro project has been successful?

Answer 94

-Increased quality of life
-Increased mobility
-Increased employment opportunities
-Economic boost

It has been used as a model b y the UN and replicated in other Brazilian cities.

Question 95

Downsides of the Favela Bairro project.

Answer 95

-The budget of $1 billion was not enough to cover all 73 favelas at the time, let alone the over 1000 now

-Residents lack the skills and money to maintain and repair the new infrastructure

-Rents rose in improved favelas which means that the poorest residents are even worse off than before, not able to afford basic needs or pay the tax to stay.

Question 96

North zone

Answer 96

-Industrial and port area
-international airport
-low quality housing and favelas

Question 97

West zone

Answer 97

-Barra da Tijuca - developed into a wealthy coastal suburb (tourism)
-Industrial area (Campo Grande - low q housing around steelworks)
-Main Olympic stadiums

Question 98

Centro

Answer 98

-Oldest area
-CBD and main shopping area
-Financial centre (Petrobras and CVBB)

Question 99

South zone

Answer 99

-Tunnels cut through mountains
-tourist hotels and beaches
-wealthiest district
-Rocinha (largest favela)