Urban Issues and Challenges

• Urbanisation- the rise in the proportion of people living in towns and cities, defined as urban areas
• HICs such as the UK have experienced high levels of urbanisation in the past and are now experiencing a decline so their rates of urbanisation are usually less than 1%.

  Example: UK

  • In 1950, 79% of the UK population lived in towns or cities and in 2013, 83% of the UK population lived in towns or cities. However, as cities grow, they become increasingly crowded, causing some people to move back to rural areas. This is enabled by improvements in transport infrastructure which allow people to commute to work from afar.
• LICs experience the highest levels of urbanisation with their rates of urbanisation going up to 6%.
• NEEs experience a lot of urbanisation but their rates are typically around only 2%.
• Rural-Urban Migration- Push Factors

  .It is harder to recover from devastating natural disasters in rural areas as they often lack resources and income

  .Mechanised agricultural equipment needs fewer workers so there are fewer jobs available

  .Processes like desertification make land unproductive so people can't support themselves

  .Agricultural jobs are unreliable as they depend on perfect weather and good harvests
• Rural-Urban Migration- Pull Factors

  .There are more ,often better-paid, jobs in urban areas

  .There's better access to healthcare and education

  .People may move to be with family/friends who have moved there before

  .People may expect an overall better quality of life
• Urbanisation can be caused by natural increase. Since lots of people are in the city, there will be more people giving birth. Healthcare is better and more acccessible in urban areas so most people won't die early. As a result, the birth rate will be higher than the death rate and the population will increase.
• Urbanisation can be caused by migration. As people migrate to urban areas for better opportunities, they will have families and live there for generations.
• Urban Growth-Lagos: Lagos Facts

  .Lagos is in Nigeria: an NEE with the highest GDP of all countries in Africa

  .The city population is 14 million; it is one of the fastest-growing urban areas with an annual growth rate of 3.2%

  .Lagos's migrant population leads to cultural diversity. It is well-connected to other towns; this is important for regional trade

  .Lagos is home to 80% of Nigeria's industry + global companies.

  .Lagos is the main financial centre for West Africa, with the 5th largest economy on the continent. The international port and airport are important for global trade
• Urban Growth-Lagos: Causes for Urban Growth

  .The British colonised Lagos in 1860s, making it a centre for trade and attracting merchants

  .Ex-slaves returned to Lagos in 1800s as slavery was abolished

  .Logas gained independence in 1960; there was rapid economic development as Nigeria's resources(e.g. oil)were not controlled by the British

  .The government financed construction products e.g. oil refineries, seaports and factories, creating many jobs + causing urbanisation

  .Natural increase and migration
• Urban Planning schemes aim to improve the quality of life of those who are poorest and suffer the most due to urban growth by reducing the impact certain problems have on people.
• Urban Growth-Lagos: Urban Planning Example

  .2013: the Makoko Floating School prototype was built by NLE Works to give some of the poorest children access to free education. Unfortunately, the original floating school collapsed after a storm in 2016 but the Makoko residents swore to rebuild and improve it with plans being unveiled later in 2016.
• Urban Growth-Lagos: Urban Planning Example Social Benefits

  Social Benefits:

  .Up to 100 students could be educated for free

  .The skills the local builders learned building the school equipped them to build/repair their own homes
• Urban Growth-Lagos: Urban Planning Example Environmental and Economic Benefits

  Economic Benefits:

  .Future job prospects for educated children

  .Jobs for local teachers

  .Encouraged the Makoko regeneration Plan which plans to develop the slums even more by building housing and a biogas plant

  Environmental Benefits

  .Made with 250 barrels- construction didn't harm the environment

  .Solar energy provided energy for the school

  .Rainwater collected for the school's water

  .Buoyancy allowed the school to adjust to sea levels, preventing floods