1. Urban Issues & Challenges
What is Urbanisation?
This is an increase in the amount of people living in urban areas such as towns or cities. In 2007, the UN announced that for the first time, more than 50 % of the world’s population live in urban areas.
Where is Urbanisation happening?
Urbanisation is happening all over the word but in LICs and NEEs rates are much faster than HICs. This is mostly because of the rapid economic growth they are experiencing.
Sustainable Urban Living
Sustainable urban living means being able to live in cities in ways that do not pollute the environment and using resources in ways that ensure future generations also can use then.
Water Conservation
Energy Conservation
This is about reducing the amount of water used.
Collecting rainwater for gardens and flushing toilets.
Installing water meters and toilets that flush less water.
Educating people on using less water.
Using less fossil fuels can reduce the rate of climate change.
Promoting renewable energy sources.
Making homes more energy efficient.
Encouraging people to use energy.
Creating Green Space
Waste Recycling
Creating green spaces in urban areas can improve places for people who want to live there.
Provide natural cooler areas for people to relax in.
Encourages people to exercise.
Reduces the risk of flooding from surface runoff.
More recycling means fewer resources are used. Less waste reduces the amount that eventually goes to landfill.
Collection of household waste.
More local recycling facilities.
Greater awareness of the benefits in recycling.
Traffic Management
Urban areas are busy places with many people travelling by different modes of transport. This has caused urban areas to experience different traffic congestion that can lead to various problems.
Environmental problems
Traffic increases air pollution which releases greenhouse gases that is leading to climate change.
Economic problems
Social Problems
Congestion can make people late for work and business deliveries take longer. This can cause companies to loose money.
There is a greater risk of accidents and congestion is a cause of frustration. Traffic can also lead to health issues for pedestrians.
Congestion Solutions
Widen roads to allow more traffic to flow easily.
Build ring roads and bypasses to keep through traffic out of city centres.
Introduce park and ride schemes to reduce car use.
Encourage car-sharing schemes in work places.
Have public transport, cycle lanes & cycle hire schemes.
Having congestion charges discourages drivers from entering the busy city centres.
Causes of Urbanisation
Rural - urban migration (1)
The movement of people from rural to urban areas.
Push
Pull
Natural disasters
War and Conflict
Mechanisation
Drought
Lack of employment
More Jobs
Better education & healthcare
Increased quality of life.
Following family members.
Natural Increase (2)
When the birth rate exceeds the death rate.
Increase in birth rate (BR)
Lower death rate (DR)
High percentage of population are child-bearing age which leads to high fertility rate.
Lack of contraception or education about family planning.
Higher life expectancy due to better living conditions and diet.
Improved medical facilities helps lower infant mortality rate.
Unit 2a
Urban Issues & Challenges
Sustainable Urban Living Example: Freiburg
Background & Location
Sustainable Strategies
Freiburg is in west Germany. The city has a population of about 220,000. In 1970 it set the goal of focusing on social, economic and environmental sustainability.
The city’s waste water allows for rainwater to be retained.
The use of sustainable energy such as solar and wind is becoming more important.
40% of the city is forested with many open spaces for recreation, clean air and reducing flood risk.
Traffic Management Example: London
Congestion in London was costing businesses money in lost time and air pollution affects health. In 2003 the ‘Cogestion Charge’ was created for central London (7am to 6pm Monday to Friday). It is costs £11.50 per day (money is put towards public transport).
This reduces congestion and air pollution BUT it costs people and businesses money and there are still congestion problems.
Barclay’s Bikes, buses, tubes and trains are part of London’s integrated transport system designed to reduce the need for cars.
Types of Cities
Megacity
An urban area with over 10 million people living there.
More than two thirds of current megacities are located in either NEEs (Brazil) and LICs (Nigeria). The amount of megacities are predicted to increase from 28 to 41 by 2030.
Integrated Transport System
Greenbelt Area
This is the linking of different forms of public and private transport within a city and the surrounding area.
This is a zone of land surrounding a city where new building is strictly controlled to try to prevent cities growing too much and too fast.
Brownfield Site
Urban Regeneration
Brownfield sites is an area of land or premises that has been previously used, but has subsequently become vacant, derelict or contaminated.
The investment in the revival of old, urban areas by either improving what is there or clearing it away and rebuilding.

2. Urban Change in a Major UK City: London Case Study
Location and Background
City’s Importance
London is the UK’s capital city.
It is located in SE England.
London has a population of 8.8 million and is the UK’s largest city.
London is the UK’s capital city. Government is based in the Houses of Parliament,
London is the financial capital of the UK and is home to the Stock Exchange.
London is a global tourist attraction.
The city enjoys a large sporting heritage with many famous football clubs.
London is home to major universities such as UCL and Imperial.
Migration to London
City’s Opportunities
During the industrial revolution in the 1800s, the population dramatically increased as people migrated in from nearby rural areas.
With many jobs in industry, ports and services, large numbers of people came to work in London from from the West Indies, India etc creating ‘multicultural London’.
More recently, people migrate in from the north of the UK in search of better paid work. International economic migrants and refugees (from Syria and Iraq etc) have also arrived. There are large numbers of students.
Social: London has many cultural attractions such as theatres & museums. Restaurants serve food from all around the world.
Economic: Many large businesses have their headquarters in London supplying well paid jobs; particularly in the banking sector. London generates 22% of the UK GNI. It is a global business centre and is home to 251 banks.
Environmental: London has a highly effective integrated transport system (built to reduce congestion). There are a number of large green spaces and parks (Regent Park, Hyde Park etc.)
City Challenges
Brewery Square Regeneration Project DORCHESTER
Social: House prices and rent are the highest in the country. There is huge inequality.
16% of Londoners are in the poorest 10th nationally and often live in areas of social deprivation (high crime / poor health/ poverty)
Aims: Dorchester wanted to change a derelict area of land that used to be a brewery because it was not creating any money or benefit for local people and it was unattractive.
Main features: The site is now a mixed use development with restaurants, housing (included retirement flats), offices, cinema and a central square with seating and fountains.
This creates social benefits as people can meet in the square and go to the cinema and restaurants. There is an economic benefit as new jobs create a multiplier effect in the area. Environmentally the area is more attractive
Economic: Despite huge wealth unemployment is an issue. 10% were unemployed in 2011 compared to a UK average of 8.4%.
Environmental: Urban sprawl has led to increased pressure around the city as more building takes place. There are derelict sites in London that are not used.
Urban Change in a Major NEE City: MUMBAI Case Study
Location and Background
City’s Importance
Mumbai is a coastal city situated on the west coast of India in Maharashtra State.
Mumbai is India’s largest city. It is a megacity with an estimated population of 18.4million people.
Mumbai is a large port on a major shipping route It also has a major airport.
It is one of Asia’s richest cities. It creates 6% of India’s GNI and 40% of its foreign trade.
It is India’s entertainment and fashion centre – Bollywood is found there.
Mumbai is India’s financial capital with the Stock Exchange and Reserve Bank of India.
Companies have offices - Tata Steel, Nokia…
Migration to Mumbai
City’s Opportunities
The city was always an important trading town and has attracted people looking for work.
However, more recently, millions of people have migrated from rural areas (38% from Maharashtra State) due to bad harvests, lack of services and poverty to Mumbai. People do this to search for a better quality of life.
The population of Mumbai is also increasing naturally.
This expanding population has resulted in the rapid growth of Mumbai, often in slum areas such as Dharavi.
Social: Healthcare, education, clean water, electricity etc are easier to find in Mumbai than in rural areas. In addition to this, there is more to do ‘more excitement’ than in the villages.
Economic: Mumbai has a huge range of job opportunities from office jobs, to film work, to rag pickers on rubbish dumps. 25% of India’s industrial production is in Mumbai – that is a lot of factory jobs! This leads to a multiplier effect and taxes for the government.
Environmental: The city is slowly improving it’s sanitation systems but progress is slow.
City Challenges
Improving Mumbai Slums – New tower blocks
Social: There are large areas of squatter settlements in Mumbai called ‘slums’. These slums have open sewers (500 people share one toilet!), high levels of water borne diseases, and the area floods in monsoon (rainy) season.
The government has demolished (knocked down) areas of the slums and built flats.
People who have lived in the slums for a long time get a free flat, others get nothing.
Flats have clean water, toilet and electricity
They are very small and cramped.
People feel isolated in their new flats compared to the old slum
The slum community is broken up.
The flats are away from industry so less dangerous pollution BUT people have to travel further to get to work.
Economic: Many jobs are low paid and may be dangerous. There are few workers’ rights.
Environmental: Mumbai has water pollution from sewage and industry causing disease. Large amounts of traffic cause air pollution which causes health problems for people.