Urban Issues & Challenges

A growing percentage of the world’s population lives in urban areas – global pattern/trend

Urban = town/city.

Urbanisation = the proportion of the world’s population who live in cities.

HIC = High Income Country with a GNI per capita higher than $12746. For example The UK.

LIC = Low Income Country with a GNI per capita lower than $1045. For example Afghanistan.

NEE = Newly-Emerging Economies are countries that have begun to experience high rates of economic development, usually along with rapid urbanisation. For example Brazil and Nigeria.

A growing percentage of the world’s population lives in urban areas – global pattern/trend

Urbanisation is faster today in LIC/NEE than in HIC.

A growing percentage of the world’s population lives in urban areas – factors affecting the rate of urbanisation

Rural-urban migration = the movement of people from the countryside into towns and cities.

Natural increase = where the birth rate is higher than the death rate.

Push factors = factors that push people out of the countryside.

Pull factors = factors that attract people to a place.

A growing percentage of the world’s population lives in urban areas – factors affecting the rate of urbanisation

Push and pull factors

Farming is hard and

poorly paid.

Desertification and soil

erosion also make

farming difficult.

These areas are isolated

due to poor roads.

Farming is often

subsistence level, which

means that only enough

food is produced to

feed the family, nothing

left to sell.

There are better paid

jobs.

A higher standard of

living is possible. There

are also better medical

facilities.

There is a better chance

of getting an education.

Drought and other

climate hazards reduce

the number of crops

that grow.

There are few doctors

or hospitals.

Poor harvests may lead

to malnutrition or

famine.

Schools provide only

the very basic

education.

Public transport is

better and the area isn’t

isolated.

They have friends and

family already living

there.

A growing percentage of the world’s population lives in urban areas – emergence of megacities

Cities with a population of over 10 million. In 2015 there were 28 of these megacities and the United Nations estimates that by 2050 there may be as many as 50. There are three types of megacity; slow-growing, growing, and

rapid-growing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo6d-pahxPM

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs - Location

Brazil is a Newly Emerging Economy (NEE)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSqoYU2Pfts

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – importance of the city regionally,

nationally & internationally

Regionally = relating to a particular area or district in a country.

Nationally = Relating to the whole country.

Internationally = Relating to other countries.

Rio is Brazil’s second most important industrial centre, producing

5% of Brazil’s GDP.

Stunning natural surroundings and amazing beaches (such as Sugar

Loaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach) make it one of the most

visited cities in the southern hemisphere.

It’s 5 ports and 3 airports allow for exports such as coffee, sugar

and iron ore.

Rio hosted matches during the 2014 World Cup and will host the

2016 Olympic Games.

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer is one of the Seven New

Wonders of the World.

The main services in Rio are finance, banking and insurance.

The main manufacturing industries are chemicals, pharmaceuticals,

clothing, furniture and processed foods.

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – causes of the growth

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – opportunities created socially &

economically

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3cj-O8KGi4

Social = Something that affects people Economic = Something that affects the economy of the area

World Cup 2014 and Olympics 2016 have been hosted in Rio. This has provided the area with many jobs, especially in construction and tourism. Over 90,000 jobs are expected to be created in 2016.

Clean water has been provided in many areas. This has given people a better quality of life and helped to reduce the spread of diseases such as cholera, therefore improving people’s health and reducing the death rate.

People have access to hospitals, such as Sao Lucas Hospital, Copacabana. This means that more people have access to healthcare and medicines. Many people relocate to Rio for this reason.

Many businesses, such as Nestle and Texaco have located to Rio. This has created many jobs for people and attracted people to the area. In 2011 when Nestle opened over 1000 jobs were created.

£

£

£

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – how urban growth has created challenges

Challenges Description of the challenges Solutions

Health care In 2013 only 55% of the city had a local family health clinic. Services for

pregnant women and the elderly were very poor, especially in poorer

areas of the city near to Rocinha.

Health kits to peoples’ homes, especially in the poorer areas. There

are also vaccines and medicines now available. This has meant that

the infant mortality rate has fallen and life expectancy has

increased.

Education Education in Brazil is only compulsory up to the age of 14. Only half of

children continue their education beyond 14. Many get involved in drug

trafficking. The main reasons for poor education are; shortage of schools,

lack of money and need to work, and shortage of teachers.

Authorities have tried to improve access to education for everyone

by; encouraging local people to volunteer and help in school.

Water

Supply

Around 12% of Rio’s population did not have access to running water. It is

estimated that 37% of water is lost through leaky pipes, fraud, and illegal

access.

Seven new treatment plants were built. By 2014, 95% of the

population had a mains water supply.

Energy Rio suffers from frequent blackouts due to a shortage of electricity. The

growing population and the demands from holding the Olympics have

made the situation worse. Many people in poorer areas try to get

electricity illegally, which is very unsafe.

Electricity supply to Rio has been improved by; installing 60km of

new power lines, building a nuclear generator, and developing the

new Simplicio hydro-electric complex which will increase Rio’s

supply by 30%.

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – how urban growth has created challenges

Unemployment &

Crime

Robbery and violent crimes are very common in Rio. Street crime is

a problem at night and violent gangs control drug trafficking in

many of the favelas.

Since 2015 unemployment levels have been rising. The poor people

who live in favelas are still without jobs and unemployment rates

are over 20%. Most work in the informal sector, making money

wherever they can, such as street vending. This is very poorly paid

work.

Education is being used to reduce youth unemployment. The Schools

Tomorrow programme aims to improve education in poor and

violent areas. There are practical skills courses as well as courses for

adults. Free child care is available for teenage parents so they

continue in education.

In 2013 Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) were established to reclaim

favelas from drug dealers. Police have now taken control of different

areas around Rio and the crime rate has fallen.

Air Pollution &

Traffic Congestion

Air pollution is estimated to cause 5000 deaths per year. This is due

to heavy traffic causing air pollution.

Improvements have been aimed at reducing traffic congestion.

Expansion to the metro systems and new toll roads (pay to drive on)

in the city centre to reduce congestion.

Waste and Water

Pollution

Favelas (squatter settlements) are built on steep slopes access is

very difficult for waste collection. Most waste is dumped and also

pollutes the water system.

Overseas aid has been used to reduce the amount of sewage. 12 new

sewage works have been built since 2014. A power plant has also

been set up near the University of Rio. This uses 30 tonnes of

rubbish every day to produce gas and provide electricity for 1000

homes.

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – urban planning improving quality of life

Illegal settlements where people have built houses on land that they didn’t own.

Built on a steep hillside overlooking Copacabana and Ipanema

Come from the rural areas north east countryside.Hope to find a better life in the city.

To make Rio more attractive to businesses.

Rochina. 75,000 people.

Up to 1000

Mainly on the edge of the city. Often built on hillsides. To the north and east of Rio.

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – urban planning improving quality of life

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18552512

http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/urbanproblsledcs.html

Construction Services Unemployment & Crime Health

Poorly built from materials such as iron, broken bricks and plastic sheets.

Illegal

Landslides on the slopes when there is heavy rainfall

Limited access due to the steepness of the slopes.

12% of homes don’t have running water. Residents usually have to make several trips per day to access clean water.

30% have no electricity and will connect illegally to the electricity pylons

50% have no sewage connections.

Unemployment rates higher that 20%

Many jobs are in the informal sector where the average income is less than £75 per monthMany people turn to drugs to make money and the drug gangs dominate the favelas

Murder rate is 20 per 1000

Infant mortality rates are 50 per 1000

Waste cannot easily be disposed of and builds up

Causes diseases such as cholera to spread.

Health and breathing issues caused by burning rubbish

PROBLEMS

Urban growth creates opportunities & challenges for cities in LICs & NEEs – urban planning improving quality of life

SOLUTIONS http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zk32pv4/revision/11

Self-help schemes

• Small scale projects which allow local

people to use their skills to help improve

their local area.

• The government has provided materials

such as bricks, cement and glass to enable

residents to improve their own homes.

• This often creates a community spirit as

many families work together to make the

improvements.

• In Rocinha, self-help schemes have

improved the area from slums to low

quality housing where the majority of

homes have basic services like electricity.

• There are now also many services in

Rocinha including cafes and shops.

Site and service schemes

• Undertaken by the local authority to

relocate residents from favelas.

• Brick houses are built with electricity,

running water and sanitation pipes.

People may be allowed to buy these

houses.

• An example is 'The Favela Bairro Project'

or 'Slum to Neighbourhood' project.

• Services in these areas also include

rubbish collection, schools and health

centres. A Pacifying Police Unit (UPP) has

been set up. This involves police walking

around to reduce crime.

Charities

• Self-help schemes.

• The Developing Minds Foundation

builds schools and supports

education programmes in Rio's

favelas.

• Their aim is to improve the literacy

rates of children so they can get a

good job, improve their standard of

living and have more life choices.

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, &

environmental opportunities & challenges – distribution & population of major cities

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – location &

importance of Bristol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khM7tjui86Q

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – impacts of national

& international migrationMigration = When people move from one area to another to live.

Main countries of origin

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-23199148http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-28175674

A rich/varied culture - The attitudes, customs and beliefs of a particular place

Economic growth – businesses creating jobs and money

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – impacts of national

& international migration

Impacts of migration

• These migrants are a hard-working and motivated workforce, improving the levels of skills in the economy

(more plumbers).

• This helps where there are shortages of these skills in Bristol.

• Migrants have enriched the city’s cultural life. Fifty countries are represented in Bristol’s population. These

migrants contribute to the cultural life of the city in music, art, literature and food.

• Bristol’s large African and Afro-Caribbean population has had a significant impact, and has created a strong

community spirit.

• The St Paul’s Carnival attracts around 40,000 people each year. Its aim is to help improve relations

between European, African, Caribbean and Asian communities. Younger migrants help to balance out the

ageing population and they add money to the local and national economy, by paying taxes.

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – opportunities in

Bristol

Bristol’s youthful population

means that there is a vibrant

underground music scene.

There are a variety of venues

for entertainment including

The Bristol Old Vic.

Shopping is a growing leisure

activity in Bristol. The retail

park, Cribbs Causeway. They

have also improved the city

centre by adding CCTV,

improving public transport

and turning the Old Market

area into a conservation area.

Every primary school pupil

planted a tree to improve the

city’s green coverage.

Bristol is home to global

companies, such as Aardman

Animations. Companies are

attracted for reasons such as

having close links to the

university and having a skilled

workforce.

The Ministry of Defence

Procurement Agency (DPA) is

located in Bristol, employing

over 10,000 people. It supplies

the army, air force, and navy

with everything from boots to

aircraft carriers.

At Bristol’s Harbourside old

factories and warehouses

have been converted into bars

and nightclubs. This includes

an art gallery and the At-

Bristol science exhibition.

175 businesses in Bristol have

a ‘Green’ action plan and the

first 100 electrical car charging

points were installed in the

city.

High-tech companies are very

important. There are 50

micro-electronic and silicon

design businesses in the

Bristol area.

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – environmental

opportunities in Bristol

Integrated Transport System

• Linking different forms of public transport = making journeys smoother.

• Encourage people to switch from cars to public transport.

• Makes transport more sustainable and reduces traffic congestion.

• The first services operated in late 2016.

• Planning many rail improvements = the electrification of the line to London.

Urban Greening

• Over 90% of the population live within 350m of parkland and waterways.

• 8 nature reserves and 300 parks.

• Queen Square is once a duel carriageway but is now an open space with cycle routes.

• 30% of the city will be covered in trees in the future.

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – challenges in Bristol

POSITIVES

• Already transport routes and easy access.

• Prevents urban sprawl on greenfield sites.

• Existing buildings can be put to use.

• Saves land that is derelict and unused.

NEGATIVES

• Expensive because the land has previously been built on and needs to be cleared.

• Contamination from previous use.

• Brownfield site – has been built on before

• Greenfield site – has never been built on

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – environmental

challenges in BristolEnvironmental

Dereliction

• Inner city areas are run down where there is old industrial buildings.

• Warehouses abandoned when the port moved.

STOKES CROFT

• Inner city, high-density housing.

• Lots of abandoned buildings including Perry’s Carridge Works.

• Many buildings taken over by squatters.

• Bristol City Council got lottery funding to improve the area.

• Activists and artists revitalised through community action & public art.

Urban Sprawl

• Increased demand for new housing.

• 3200 houses were lost during 2nd World War.

• In 1955, 43 families per week were moved into brand new homes on estates like Hartcliffe on the edge of the built up area.

• Urban sprawl particularly to the north west of the city.

• The new town of Bradley Stoke has extended.

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – environmental

challenges in BristolEnvironmental

Waste Disposal

• Aim to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

• Reduce household waste by 15%.

• Increase waste recycling to 50%.

• Recycling has been achieved by;

Teach pupils in schools.

Introduce kerbside collections.

Make technological improvements to recycling.

Air Pollution

• Vehicle emissions are main cause of air pollution in the city.

• Pollutants are blown over the city from the industrial area around the port at Avonmouth.

• The whole area has been made a smoke control area.

• Reducing speed limits on motorways and residential areas.

• The Frome Gateway – walking and cycling route in the city centre.

• Electric vehicle programme with charging points in 40 public carparks.

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – social & economic

challenges in Bristol

Urban deprivation = Urban areas where people are living in low income households. Housing needs improvement, along with amenities.

Urban sprawl = Unplanned growth of urban areas & the surrounding rural areas.

Urban-rural fringe = The area where the urban area meets the rural area.

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – social & economic

challenges in BristolSocial Inequality

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to

social, economic, & environmental

opportunities & challenges – social &

economic challenges in Bristol

Increasing housing

Urban change in cities in the UK leads to social, economic, & environmental opportunities & challenges – urban regeneration

Urban regeneration = the attempt to reverse the decline by improving the physical structure, and the economy of those areas.

Temple Quarter Before• Brownfield site• Industrial area in the 18th century• Feeder Canal was built in the 19th

century• 1841 first railway station was built• Warehouse and factories• Canals and trains meant that easy

access for transporting goods• Terraced housing for factory workers

Temple Quarter Regeneration

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=temple+quarter+bristol&&view=detail&mid=898E4EDBAEEAB5335C22898E4EDBAEEAB5335C22&rvsmid=8FDE1F5A6ACFEBAD3D718FDE1F5A6ACFEBAD3D71&fsscr=0

&FORM=VDFSRV

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-26075213

Urban sustainability requires management of resources and transport - features of sustainable urban living - water & energy

conservation, waste recycling, & creating green spaceA sustainable urban area = minimal damage to the environment, the economic base is sound with resources allocated fairly and jobs secure, and there is a strong sense of community, with local people involved in decisions made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpUfrDsA3oM

• Fire station was given a biomass boiler. • Thick double glazed houses with walls and solar panels. • Free loft insulation.• Special showers and toilets to save water. • Kerbside recycling. • Master Composters Scheme – people encouraged to make their own compost. • Surrounded by natural habitats and wildlife. • Allotments to cut down food miles. • Wildlife corridors with paths so animals can move around the town and people can take

walks.

Urban sustainability requires management of resources and transport - features of sustainable urban living – transport

strategies to reduce traffic congestionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiQxLj1XyF8&feature=youtu.be

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-41695116

Aims to reduce high traffic

flow in the central area of

London by charging people to

drive through these areas. The

standard charge is £11.50 for

each day.

Schemes including ‘go drive’

and ‘DriveNow’ encourages

people to car share.

Making public transport more

effective. Buses, the underground,

trains, trams and the river bus

service are all linked so that there

are smoother running times.

Traffic is restricted in certain areas.

The scheme, known as ‘mini Holland’

means that the areas are bike and

pedestrian friendly. London cycle

hire scheme is also available for

people to hire bikes.

50 bus priority schemes have been

introduced in the capital. This

means that roads within the city

centre can only be used by buses.

Parking costs have been increased in

the city centre. However, this has been

teamed with controlled parking zones

in the outer areas of London. Parking

has been increased in these areas to

encourage the use of public transport.