Urban issues + challenges

• Urbanisation 


  Growth in proportion of a country's population living in urban areas
• Distribution of urbanisation


  greater in LIC's and NEE's and lower in HIC's
• 3 causes of urbanisation 


  1. Rural to urban migration (countryside --> cities)
  2. Natural increase
  3. Economic growth + resources and location
• Megacities


  cities which have a population of ore than 10 million
• Push factors examples 


  • Farming is hard and poorly paid
  • Few doctors + hospitals
  • Schools provide basic education
  • Poor harvests lead to malnutrition
  • Desertification + soil erosion makes farming difficult
• Pull factors examples


  • More well-paid jobs
  • higher standard of living
  • Better education + employment
  • Public transport is cleaner
  • Better medical facilities
  • May have friends and family already living there
• Where is Rio de Janeiro located?

  In the south-east of Brazil

  Around a large bay - Guanabara bay

  The population of 6.3 million
• Why is Rio de Janeiro important

  As it is the capital of Brazil.

  It is also a transport hub which attracts businesses
• How did Rio de Janeiro grow?

  It grew due to Rural to urban migration and natural increase
• Social Urban Growth Opportunities in Rio de Janeiro


  • 1000 public schools
  • 99% of adult literacy rate
  • diverse community
  • Has 1 out of the 7 wonders of the world
  • Hosted Olympic games
• Economic Urban Growth Opportunities in Rio de Janeiro


  • International hub (5 ports, 3 airports)
  • Informal sector - no tax
  • Banking and finance industries
  • Many manufacturing industries (clothing)
• Social Challenges in Rio

  
  

  Health care - In 2013, 55% had local family clinic = doctors took health kits to favelas and treated 20 diff types of diseases

  
  

  Education - 1/2 of all children continued education beyond 14 (drug trafficking) = Encouraged locals to volunteer in skl and gave skl grants to poor families

  
  

  Water supply - 12% of population didn't have access to water = improved the quantity of water in the favelas. 7 new water treatment plants built, 95% of people had mains water supply

  
  

  Energy - blackouts, had to illegally gain access = installed 60km of new power lines.
• Economic challenges in Rio


  The informal sector has unpredictable income and a lack of sick pay (less than £60 a month) 1/3 of Rio does not have a formal employment contract = Local government is using education to reduce youth employment (schools of Tomorrow programme) Also available for adults who left education

  
  

  Crime rates are high 20/1000 people get murdered, Murder, kidnapping and carjacking happen often. Gangs control drug trafficking in favelas = In 2013 Pacifying police officers were established to reclaim favelas from drug dealers + police have taken over many favelas
• Environmental challenges in Rio

  Traffic congestion - Most congested in SA - steep mountains, tunnels through mountains + cars increased by 40% as high crime means people travel by car = Expanded metro system, new toll roads into city reduce congestion, coast roads are one-way to improve traffic flow

  
  

  Water pollution - Threat to wildlife, fishing declined by 90% - 55 of the rivers which flow into the bay are heavily polluted by runoff from favelas, 200t of sewage pours into bay = 12 new sewage works built since 2004, ships fined for leaking fuel illegally, 5km of new sewage pipes installed
• Environmental challenges in Rio pt2

  Waste - worst in favelas - few roads means difficult for lorries to collect waste so is dumped --> diseases = Power plant set up using methane gas from rotting rubbish to consume 30t of rubbish a day and provides electricity to 1000 homes

  
  

  Air pollution - causes 50000 deaths a yr, causes slow-moving traffic - Heavy traffic + congestion on roads causing build-up of flame = cause of traffic congestion so solutions are the same
• urban slum


  A settlement (may be illegal) of impoverished people who live in improvised homes made from scrap material
• challenges of squatter settlements


  • Construction - poorly constructed, built illegally with basic materials + on steep slopes, heavy rain causes landslides (in 2010 224 ppl killed)
  • Unemployment - high as 20%, poorly paid less than £60 a month
  • Crime - Drug gangs dominate favelas, ppl distrust police because of violence
  • Health - Infant mortality rates as high as 50/1000, waste not disposed of + builds up in streets, rubbish burnt sets houses on fire - smoke
  • Services - 12% = no water, 30% = no electricity, sewage are open drains, drinking water contaminated + at the bottom of steep hills
• How can urban planning improve Q of L for the urban poor 


  Transport + infrastructure = introduces cable car system has given access to healthcare + education

  
  

  Crime + safety = Armed police pacify areas so more people feel safe. Authority begin to provide services like schools, healthcare and rubbish collection

  
  

  Employment = money saved on labour spent on water and electricity, which helps people buy houses or pay rent
• How can urban planning improve Q of L for the urban poor pt 2

  Water and sanitation = Most houses have access to sanitation, plumbing and electricity, which allows for a better quality of life - healthier

  Housing = people are given tools and low interest, loans residence are provided with materials to live in a more comfortable life and safer
• example of urban planning


  Favela Bairro project

  • Help 60,000 residents
  • Cable car system
  • Pacifying police unit
  • Improve sanitation (access to water and drainage system)
  • Legal ownership of properties
• explain the population distribution in the UK

  Very uneven. Major cities generally south of the UK have a large population. Urban areas are more populated than rural areas. E.g. London
• 4 zones of urban areas

  1. Central business district - middle of town, surrounded by Ring Road
  2. Inner city - mix of land, use modern housing and high-rise tower blocks
  3. Suburbs - edge of city semidetached housing
  4. Rural-urban fringe - very edge of the city, farmland an open space
• where is London?

  London is the capital city situated in the south-east located on the River Thames densest population in the centre of the UK at 9 million
• impact of migration on London

  Young people move to London for work. They are more likely to have children (natural increase) higher pay, employment opportunities, and better quality of life.
• social opportunities created by urban change

  • Cultural diversity
  • Recreation and entertainment, e.g. museums, cinemas restaurants
  • Employment
  • Many financial activities
  • Integrated transport systems
• economic opportunities created by urban change

  • Migration of youthful entrepreneurs from areas around the world
  • Urban regeneration, transforming derelict, industrial buildings, and redevelopment of Brownfield sites
  • Growth of service industries, e.g. banking finance, public services
  • London Docklands for employment
• environmental opportunities created by urban change

  • Urban greening create central parts for recreation and green walls
  • Green cities for animal habitats and farms
  • Green cleans the air which reduces climate change and flooding
• Social and economic challenges from urban change

  • Urban deprivation
  • Housing inequality
  • Health and employment
• environmental challenges from urban change

  • Derelict buildings
  • Waste disposal
  • Building on Brownfield and greenfield site
  • urban sprawl and rural to urban fringe, building on the greenbelt
  • Water usage increases
• how is London responding to waste disposal

  • 50,000 rubbish trucks
  • 85,000 tons collected
  • Mocking marshes are now nature parks
  • Household waste goes to material recovery facility in Southwark
  • Food waste goes to composting facility in Kent, are used for soil
  • Long recyclable waste goes to an energy from waste facility, which provides electricity
• how is London responding to a pollution?

  • ULEZ congestion charge of £15
  • Car tax - pay less if your car pollute less
  • Planned banning of the sale of diesel cars by, 2035
  • Diesel cars are charge higher tax
  • Investment in cycle network
  • Investment in public transport, e.g. Elizabethan line
• why did the Lower Lea Valley need regeneration?

  • Derelict land
  • Brownfield site
  • Industries had gone
  • In Newham - deprived area
  • Unemployment was high
• What challenges needed to be overcome to regenerate the Lower Lea Valley?

  All the land had to be brought under the new owner's Olympic delivery authority

  
  

  People who owned the land had to leave by, 2007 protests occurred

  
  

  Past industries, polluted the parts of the land, so they had to remove the contaminants before construction began

  
  

  110hec of Brownfield land was reclaimed

  
  

  Waterways and railways were all over the site they build bridges to connect everything
• How was the lower Lea Valley regenerated?

  Factories turned into new sports venues, including the Olympic stadium and aquatic centres Velo parks open to the public

  
  

  LLDC was set up to solve contaminated soil and polluted water

  
  

  The Olympics media centre had been renamed he is and is a helpful creative industries employing 5000 people

  
  

  The landscape Park with natural habitats. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the largest new park in London with over 100 ha of open Space
• How was the lower Lea Valley regenerated? pt 2


  Athletes Village was converted into residential accommodation, known as East Village providing 2800 times for locals

  
  

  International quarter development with high-rise office development employing 25,000 people

  
  

  East Bank development is a new culture for London, home to organisations such as BBC Music, VNA museum, London College of Fashion
• Sustainable living 


  One which meets the needs without making it more difficult to meet the needs of future generations
• Key features of sustainable living in East Village

  High-density housing - high standards of insulation and energy, efficiency prevents energy loss, which can be used for other things in the house

  
  

  Open space - 27 hectors of Park used for wildlife and habitats and recreation of useful people

  
  

  Shops and services - 35 small independent shops as small local businesses get the money which can be used for income and employment
• Key features of sustainable living in East Village pt 2

  Transport - close to bus routes and new local station, good cycling and walking routes. This means easy access and more people use it cars which reduces the

  
  

  Green roofs - on residential blocks, full of grass and small plants better for the environment as they absorb CO2

  
  

  Call parking - makes users pay a price which will eventually reduce the amount of cars driven
• East Village energy and water


  Uses less water than most urban

  
  

  50% less, water is recycled and drinking water is on a separate system

  
  

  Energy uses 30% less than an average of an area

  
  

  Achieved by using a combined heat and power chip system, cheap as it generates electricity, and produces heat from the same source of energy = biomass