Urban issues and challenges

• Urbanisation


  The rising percentage of people living in urban areas compared to rural areas
• Counter-Urbanisation

  When large numbers of people move from urban areas into rural areas
• Megacity


  A metropolitan area with a total population in excess of 10 million
• Conurbation


  Two or more urban areas that converge
• Natural Increase


  When the birth rate in a country is higher than the death rate
• Natural decrease


  When the death rate of a country is higher than the birth rate
• Push factors


  Factors that make you want to leave your current area (push you away)
• Pull factors


  Factors that make you want to move to an area (Pull you in)
• Informal Sector


  Jobs that don’t have a contract and are not tracked by the government, so arent taxed
• Formal sector


  Jobs that are contracted and tracked by the government, so are taxed
• Favelas


  Illegal squatter settlements in Rio
• Gentrification 


  When an area is redeveloped and upgraded, attracting richer people and often displacing poorer tenants
• Greenfield sites


  Building on new land, often farms or fields
• Brownfield sites 


  Redeveloping previously built up areas to build new buildings
• Urban sprawl


  Areas where the city has expanded and is developed for low density residential, car dependent areas
• Urban regeneration


  When urban areas are upgraded to improve the economic and social spaces in the area. Normally occurs in areas of dereliction, pollution or brownfield sites that are restored
• Sustainability 


  Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• Integrated Transport system


  Parts of the transport system linked together to make travel more efficient, e.g. the London Underground
• Rural-Urban migration


  The movement of people from the countryside (rural) to the city (urban)
• Case study of a major city in a LIC or NEE

  Rio de Janerio (Brazil, NEE)
• Importance of Rio


  National

  • Second largest city in Brazil
  • Produces 5% of the countries GDP
  • Major port
  • Cultural capital

  International

  • ‘Global city’, it is an industrial and financial centre
  • International hub, 5 ports and 3 airports
  • 2016 Olympics and 2014 World Cup
  • lots of tourism due to Christ the Redeemer and the views
• Opportunities in Rio


  Social

  • Education - 4% literacy rate, contains 19/50 of Brazils top schools
  • Healthcare - 105 hospitals (39% public), life expectancy of 77 (73 average in Brazil)
  • Water - 95% of the urban population has mains water supply, 65% of rural population

  Economic

  • Informal Sector- Gives more people jobs, and is untaxed income; but it’s uncontracted so has poor pay
  • Employment - 6% of employment in the country, more jobs in Rio than in the North/North east of Brazil
  • Tourism - A major industry in Rio, providing employment and improving the local economy
• Challenges in Rio


  Social

  • Healthcare - Not free, only 55% have access to a local family health clinic.
  • Education - 25% of the poorest children are not in school, only compulsory 6-14 after this many drop out and are forced into drug trafficking

  Economic

  • Economy hit a recession in 2014 causing increased unemployment
  • The richest 1% earn 12% of the cities total income

  Environmental

  • Heavy pollution in the bay
  • smog caused by traffic congestion
  • The surrounding mountains limit the space for expansion, making development difficult
• Favela bairro project 


  A site and service scheme in Rio

  • Paved and formally named roads
  • Access to water supply and drainage system
  • hillsides secured to prevent landslides
  • building of new healthcare, education and leisure facilities
  • Installation of a cable car system
  • Access to credit to allow inhabitants to buy things to improve their homes
  • 100% mortgages
  • A pacifying police unit set up
• A case study of a major city in the uk

  London
• Importance of London


  National

  • Capital city & seat of the government - any laws or bills come from London, it also gives people a physical place to protest
  • Generates 22% of the Uks GDP

  International

  • Second most important financial centre in the world
  • Many international companies have headquarters in London
  • 6 international airports
  • 2012 Olympics
• Opportunities in London


  Social

  • High diversity - allows people to experience different cultures
  • Entertainment - Has lots of areas like restaurants, cafes, cinamas and pubs

  Economic

  • Employment - plenty of business opportunities due to all the entertainment locations and businesses that have headquarters there
  • Integrated Transport systems - London Underground , allows people to be able to get around easier, get jobs further away and be on time to work
• Challenges in London


  Social

  • social deprivation- people still lack the things needed to live a good life, 2 million people still live in poverty
  • life expectancy - differences still exist across London due to poor diets, housing, education, healthcare and lack of employment

  Economic

  • Due to the large population, there are many people who are unemployed

  Environmental

  • Most sites are brownfield, which means things will have to be demolished, and the ground may need to be decontaminated
• Urban regeneration project in London

  Olympic park (Lower Lea valley)

  • New media centre providing 5000 jobs
  • park with 100 hectares of green space
  • New home of West Ham united, bringing in more tourists
  • New homes for locals out of the old athletes village
  • High rise offices employing 25000 people