urban issues & challenges

• what is urbanisation?

  increase in the population of people living in towns and cities
• what is the rate of urbanisation like?

  • first occurred in HIC's during industrial revolution
  • attracted to work in factories, because of development in technology and that led to mechanisation on farms
  • rate of urbanisation in LIC's is lower now as they are developing more
• what is migration?

  people moving in urban areas from rural areas
• what is natural increase?

  where the birth rate is higher than death rate
• list some push factors (factors which cause people to leave)

  • lack of employment opportunities
  • limited food production due to overgrazing, misuse of land
  • starvation
  • many families do not own land
  • extreme physical conditions e.g. aridity
  • lack of services
  • overpopulation
  • mechanisation leading to loss of jobs
  • local communities forced to move
  • lack of investment
• what are some pull factors (factors that cause people to come into the city)

  • better paid jobs
  • better services
  • more comfortable houses and higher quality of life (qol)
  • leisure and entertainment
  • religious and political activities can be carried out more safely
  • more reliable sources of food
• where is rio de janerio?

  • situated on the east coast of brazil in the continent of south america
  • close to the city of sao paulo
• rio's importance

  • main service industries are banking, finance and insurance
  • christ the redeemer being one of the 7 wonders of the world
  • tourism
  • hosted the 2014 world cup, 2016 olymics
  • international hub with 5 ports and 3 airports
  • migrants coming from around the world for business opportunities and economic opportunities
  • manufacturing industries e.g. chemicals, pharmaceuticals, clothing, furniture, processed foods
  • exports mainly coffee, sugar and iron ores

• economic opportunities in rio

  • construction industry: high demand, people don't need formal education or professional qualifications, accounts for 7.6% of jobs in brazil
  • technology sector developing quickly - 1,300 startups as of 2021
  • more jobs available in rio in general, able to work in the informal economy (street vendors, recycling waste)
  • land rover manufacturing factory: £240 mil, employed 300 people
• social opportunities in rio

  • cultural experiences: music, carnival, museum of tomorrow, rio art museum, christ the redeemer
  • outdoor activities: beaches (copacabana, ipanema), landmarks (sugarloaf mountain, christ the redeemer), hiking trails
  • tourism
  • education: 1000 primary schools, 400 secondary schools, contains 19 of the top 50 schools in the country, 6 universities
  • energy: lower energy costs and building hep plants (simplicio hydroelectric complex, 30% more energy)
  • healthcare: 105 hospitals (only 34% are public), 77 year life expectancy, infant mortality rates are lower (6.2/1000)
• social challenges in rio

  • in 2013 only 55% had access to a family health clinic
  • 37% if drinking water is lost due to leaky pipes, fraud and illegal access
  • poorer residents get energy from illegally tapping into the main supply - unsafe
  • rapidly growing population and olympics caused severe energy demand
  • 12% of the population do not have access to running water
  • blackouts
  • high crime rates, carjacking, assault, robbery
  • kids drop out of school and end up drug trafficking
  • school only 6-14
  • many do not attend school, shortage of teachers and pay
• economic challenges in rio

  • formal jobs often include those which require high level of education, informal jobs include prostitution, street vendors, maids and sewing and those are poorly paid
  • economic impact of water pollution
  • 3.5 mil residents work in the informal sector, no insurance or unemployment benefits (e.g. maternity)
  • commercial fishing has declined by 90%
• environmental challenges in rio

  • oil spills
  • number of cars increased by 40%
  • rats are attracted to huge amounts of waste in favelas
  • droughts
  • ships empty tanks into guanabara bay
  • smog
  • 5000 deaths per year due to air pollution
  • industrial waste contributes 50 tonnes each day
• water supply challenges and opportunities in rio

  • 12% with no access to water
  • 37% is lost through leaky pipes, fraud and illegal access
  • improved quality and quantity in favelas and around olympic park
  • 7 new treatment plans between 1998 and 2014
  • by 2014, 95% had a mains water supply
  • drought has increased pressure on water supply as reservoirs have dried up
• sanitation challenges and opportunities in rio

  • no access to flush toilets - sewage drains into the soil or pours into open drains and rivers
  • rivers and guanabara bay is polluted heavily with raw sewerage - 200 tonnes per day
  • overseas aid has been used to rescue the amount of sewage being released into the bay
  • 12 new sewerage works have been built since 2004
  • 5km of new sewerage around badly polluted areas
• energy challenges and opportunities in rio

  • frequent blackouts due to growing demands due to population increase
  • this affects hospitals, schools, industry and residents
  • causes illegal tapping into main supply
  • electricity supplies are being improved by construction of the simplicio hydroelectric complex which will increase electricity supply by 30%
  • building a new nuclear generator
• healthcare challenges and opportunities in rio:

  "patchy"

  • 55% had a local family health clinic
  • medical staff takes kits to people's homes as transport is a barrier
• education challenges and opportunities in rio:

  • compulsory for only 6-14, only 50% continue after 14
  • kids get drawn into drug trafficking and gangs
  • lack of schools nearby, shortage of teachers as there is less pay
  • encourage volunteers to help in school
  • giving schools grants to help meet the cost of keeping children in school
  • making money available to pay for free lessons in volleyball, football, swimming etc
• unemployment challenges and opportunities in rio:

  • in favelas, unemployment rates can exceed 20%
  • 1/3 of the workforce work in the informal sector
  • they do not pay taxes which means no multiplier effect or investment into the surfaces
  • "schools for tomorrow" - teaching practical skills to people in deprived areas, encouraging to seek formal employment
  • free childcare
• crime challenges and opportunities in rio:

  • high rates, violent, kids are often involved as they do not have the money or chance to go to school
  • highly trained military, take control of the favelas
  • 2013- pacifying police units, increased police presence and decreased crime rates, but 2018 violence increased, decreasing police numbers
• pollution challenges and opportunities in rio:

  • air pollution - 5000 deaths per year
  • caused by heavy traffic and congestion, exhaust fumes and pollutants from factories
  • guanabara bay often polluted the most - threat to wildlife and could affect beaches, which can decrease tourism and economy
  • 200 tonnes of raw sewage poured into the bay each day
  • 50 tonnes of industrial waste each day
  • since 2004, 12 new sewage works
  • 5km of new sewage pipes
• waste challenges and opportunities in rio:

  • 3.5 mil tonnes of solid waste per year
  • favelas are built on steep slopes, few have proper roads, difficult for waste collection lorries
  • dumped into watercourses, encourages diseases
  • recycling is being encouraged
  • landfill gas is actively collected as source of energy, electricity and fuel for vehicles
  • biogas powerplant - consumes 30 tonnes of rubbish everyday, produces electricity for 1000 homes
• what is an example of an urban planning scheme in rio?

  the favela bairro project
• what is the favela bairro project:

  • 1994
  • aims to integrate informal settlements into formal city structure
  • addresses severe infrastructural, social and economic deficiencies
  • aims to provide essential services and infrastructure e.g. paved roads, sanitation, running water, stairways, drainage, public lighting and electricity
  • aims to improve social services
  • create commercial spaces and offer job training programs
• benefits of the favela bairro project:

  • improved infrastructure: improved living conditions, accessibility, health
  • increased property values
  • social benefits
• drawbacks of the favela bairro project:

  • uneven benefits: not all favelas were covered by the project, uneven development across the city
  • gentrification and displacement: pushing out poorer residents who can no longer afford to live there
  • continued challenges: crime, need more comprehensive solutions
  • lack of resident participation
• examples of things implemented by scheme:

  • paved and formally named roads
  • access to water supply and drainage systems
  • hillsides secured
  • new health facilities
  • new educational services
  • new leisure facilities
  • installation of cable car systems
  • credit to buy materials to improve homes
  • 100% mortgages
  • pacifying police untit
• failures of the scheme:

  • expensive - 1 bil budget may not be enough
  • infrastructure not being maintained
  • more training needed to improve literacy and employment
  • rents rise
  • residents displaced
• describe liverpool's location:

  • north west of england
  • surrounded by blackpool, manchester and chester
  • river mersey runs between liverpool and wirral
• importance of liverpool:

  • hosted eurovision 2023
  • cathedrals - anglican, metropolitan
  • premire league football teams
  • international hub, cruise terminal welcomes the Three Queens
  • many migrants
  • tourism, retailing, finance and insurance
  • russel group universities
  • theatres, museums, galleries e.g. empire theatre, echo arena
  • beatles
  • tourism generates 4 bil annually
• impacts of national and international migration on liverpool:

  • wave of afro-caribbean immigrants (40s-50s), contributed to the economy
  • 2 mil irish people migrated after great irish famine
  • somalis sought asylum after outbreak of somali civil war 1991
  • welsh migration
  • latin american migration in 1970s
  • oldest chinese community in europe
  • south asians, 1860s, indians from kenya 1970s
• positive impacts of migration:

  • economic growth: entrepreneurs boost economy by 200 mil a year, 25 bil nationally per year
  • diversity: mosques, china town, oye festival welcomes 50,000 a year
  • increased labour force: international nurses from africa and asia
  • 21% of NHS are from black or ethnic minority backgrounds
• negative impacts of migrations:

  • housing shortage: house prices have increased by 390% from 1995-2023
  • job competition
  • cultural tension: toxteth fights between police and afro-cubans
• cultural mix in liverpool:

  • lots of migration between 1890-1970 of afro-caribbeans, irish, chinese, latin-americans, south asians
  • places of worship
  • cultural festivals
• recreation and entertainement in liverpool:

  • museums: international slavery museum, maritime museum, beatles museum
  • arenas and stadiums: echo, anfield and everton
  • liverpool one, albert dock
• employment in liverpool:

  • public administration makes up 40%
  • manufacturing ports
  • film and music industries
  • littlewoods being renovated
  • tourism
  • cruise ships
• intergrated transport in liverpool:

  • merseyrail/ merseytravel
  • liverpool airport
  • walrus card, metro card, arriva and stagecoach
• environmental opportunities in liverpool:

  • mental well-being: provide place for relaxation, rest and play
  • physical health: reduces health problems, place for social interactions
  • air quality: vegetation absorb pollutants
  • urban heat island effect mitigation: trees and plants absorbing sunlight for photosynthesis which cools down the environment
  • biodiversity: habitats for wide variety of plants and animals, educational opportunities
  • stormwater management
  • aesthetics: attracts tourists
  • economic value: enhances property values, employment opportunities such as gardening and landscaping
• environmental opportunities: urban greenup project

  • new parks, green corridors, rain gardens
  • £3.4 mil
• economic challenges caused by urban change in liverpool (princess park):

  • more properties are socially rented and they are paying council tax in band A- money is going to others and to gov in tax; economically country is doing well, but people paying have lower qol as they have less money
  • high rates of unemployment (73.5%) - less money is being made, less people are earning enough for themselves and family
  • less developed areas - makes it less attractive, decline in tourism industry