urban issues and challenges 2a Flashcards
Where is Urbanisation happening?
Urbanisation is happening all over the word but in LICs and NEEs rates are much faster than HICs. This is mostly because of the rapid economic growth they are experiencing.
causes of urbanisation
Rural - urban migration (1)
Natural Increase (2)
Push
Natural disasters
War and Conflict
Mechanisation
Drought
Lack of employment
Pull
More Jobs
Better education & healthcare
Increased quality of life.
Following family members
Increase in birth rate (BR)
High percentage of population are child-bearing age which leads to high fertility rate.
Lack of contraception or education about family planning.
Lower death rate (DR)
Higher life expectancy due to better living conditions and diet.
Improved medical facilities helps lower infant mortality rate.
Megacity
An urban area with over 10 million people living there.
Sustainable Urban Living
Sustainable urban living means being able to live in cities in ways that do not pollute the environment and using resources in ways that ensure future generations also can use then.
Water Conservation
This is about reducing the amount of water used.
Collecting rainwater for gardens and flushing toilets.
Installing water meters and toilets that flush less water.
Educating people on using less water.
Energy Conservation
Using less fossil fuels can reduce the rate of climate change.
Promoting renewable energy sources.
Making homes more energy efficient.
Encouraging people to use energy.
Creating Green Space
Creating green spaces in urban areas can improve places for people who want to live there.
Provide natural cooler areas for people to relax in.
Encourages people to exercise.
Reduces the risk of flooding from surface runoff.
Waste Recycling
More recycling means fewer resources are used. Less waste reduces the amount that eventually goes to landfill.
Collection of household waste.
More local recycling facilities.
Greater awareness of the benefits in recycling.
Sustainable Urban Living Example: East Village
Rainwater used to flush toilets
Green roofs – encourage wildlife
Local buses connect to underground.
Good cycle routes and footpaths
Zero Carbon homes, energy efficient (combined heat and power biomass plant)
Integrated Transport System
This is the linking of different forms of public and private transport within a city and the surrounding area.
Brownfield Site
Brownfield sites is an area of land or premises that has been previously used, but has subsequently become vacant, derelict or contaminated.
Traffic Management
Urban areas are busy places with many people travelling by different modes of transport. This has caused urban areas to experience different traffic congestion that can lead to various problems.
traffic environmental problems
Traffic increases air pollution which releases greenhouse gases that is leading to climate change.
traffic economic problems
Congestion can make people late for work and business deliveries take longer. This can cause companies to loose money.
traffic social problems
There is a greater risk of accidents and congestion is a cause of frustration. Traffic can also lead to health issues for pedestrians.
Congestion Solutions
Widen roads to allow more traffic to flow easily.
Build ring roads and bypasses to keep through traffic out of city centres.
Introduce park and ride schemes to reduce car use.
Encourage car-sharing schemes in work places.
Have public transport, cycle lanes & cycle hire schemes.
Having congestion charges discourages drivers from entering the busy city centres.
Traffic Management Example CAMBRIDGE
Issue – city growing, city centre has very narrow streets, lots of tourists
Solutions – 3 Park and Rides (on major roads in), guided busway,
Lots of cycle routes, city centre hopper buses, pedestrianised zones
Clever bollards – let ambulances in.
Greenbelt Area
This is a zone of land surrounding a city where new building is strictly controlled to try to prevent cities growing too much and too fast.
Urban Regeneration
The investment in the revival of old, urban areas by either improving what is there or clearing it away and rebuilding.
Urban Change in a Major UK City: London
Location and Background
City’s Importance
SE, UK. River Thames important as a port.
Easiest place to build bridge.
Young population
Multi-cultural
*UK Capital
*Biggest city in the UK – 1 in 8 people live here.
*World City – global influence in finance
*Economic – many company HQ’s
*Cultural – British Museum, West End theatre, National gallery.
*Tourism – Big Ben, Buckingham Palace
Migration to London
Romans, the Saxons and Normans all settled here.
International migrates from India, Pakistan and the Caribbean came to work in London after ww2
From 2007 onwards migration from Eastern Europe.
London City Challenges
Social: House prices have increased along with greater house shortages. Foreign buyers – price out key workers e.g. teachers, nurses. Poverty in some areas. E.g. Newham affects health
Economic: Cross Rail (East-West route) encourages jobs, faster journeys. Inequalities need to be reduced.
Environmental: Air Pollution - regularly breaks EU regulations on air quality. ¼ of Waste in Landfill.
London City’s Opportunities
Social:. Shops, bars restaurants often in distinct areas of ethnic segregation - Chinatown
Economic: Silicon round-about in Shoreditch home to high tech start ups. Docklands area used to be in decline now centre for finance.
Environmental: One of the world’s greenest cities (47% green space) However the controversial garden bridge project stopped.
Regeneration – Olympic Area
Lots of old industries had moved out (derelict land) some of the poorest areas of London. High unemployment.
Main features: 9000 new homes, half to community housing.
Land cleaned
12,000 permanent jobs
Media centre
Westfield shopping centre.
Urban Change in a Major NEE City: RIO DE JANEIRO Case Study
Location and Background
City’s Importance
Rio is a coastal city situated in the South East region of Brazil within the continent of South America. It is the second most populated city in the country (6.5 million) after Sao Paulo.
*Has the second largest GDP in Brazil It is headquarters to many of Brazil’s main companies, particularly with Oil and Gas.
*Sugar Loaf mountain is one of the seven wonders of the world.
*One of the most visited places in the Southern Hemisphere.
*Hosted the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Migration to Rio De Janeiro
The city began when Portuguese settlers with slaves arrived in 1502. Since then, Rio has become home to various ethnic groups.
However, more recently, millions of people have migrated from rural areas that have suffered from drought, lack of services and unemployment to Rio. People do this to search for a better quality of life.
This expanding population has resulted in the rapid urbanisation of Rio de Janeiro.
rio City’s Opportunities
Social: Standards of living are gradually improving. The Rio Carnival is an important cultural event for traditional dancing and music.
Economic: Rio has one of the highest incomes per person in the country. The city has various types of employment including oil, retail and manufacturing.
Environmental: The hosting of the major sporting events encouraged more investment in sewage works and public transport systems.
rio City Challenges
Social: There is a severe shortage of housing, schools and healthcare centres available. Large scale social inequality, is creating tensions between the rich and poor.
Economic: The rise of informal jobs with low pay and no tax contributions. There is high employment in shanty towns called Favelas
Environmental: Shanty towns called Favelas are established around the city, typically on unfavourable land, such as hills.
Self-help schemes - Rocinha, Bairro Project
*The authorities have provided basic materials to improve peoples homes with safe electricity and sewage pipes.
*Government has demolished houses and created new estates.
*Community policing has been established, along with a tougher stance on gangs with military backed police.
*Greater investment in new road and rail network to reduce pollution and increase connections between rich and poor areas.
