geography paper 2 case studies

where is rio?

* south-east brazil, around guanabara bay
* north zone →industry, squatter settlements and the international airport
* centro →historic buildings, CBD and financial centtr
* west zone →wealthy suburbs, industrial areas and olympic stadiums
* south zone →hotels, beaches and luxury flats, rocinha

why is rio an important city?

* host for 2016 olympics and matches during 2014 world cup
* christ the redeemer
* major regional, national and international industrial centre
* important international transport hub

why has rio grown?

economic activities attract migrants

* argentina and bolivia
* portugal
* skilled workers from usa and uk

social challenges in rio - access to services

1. healthcare

IMR → 19 per 1000

average life expectancy →63
2. education

only half of all children continue education beyond 14 because: a shortage of schools and teachers, lack of money so need for teenagers to work to support their families

social challenges in rio - access to resources

1. water supply

12% population had no running water

37% lost through leaks and illegal access
2. energy

frequent power cuts and blackouts

illegal tapping into main supply

social opportunities in rio - access to services

1. healthcare

medical staff detect and treat 20 different diseases in peoples homes
2. education

authorities have given grants to poor families and opened a private uni in rocinha favela

social opportunities in rio - access to resources

1. water supply

300km new pipes and 7 treatment plants built

by 2014 95% population had mains water
2. energy

60km new power lines installed

new nuclear generator built

economic opportunities in rio

* rio provides 6% of brazils employment
* large companies now attracted to rio
* rios industrial areas have boosted the citys economy
* economic opportunities developed in the formal economy eg oil refining, tourism, retail

economic challenges in rio

1. unemployment

recession in 2015 increases unemployment

rates in favelas are over 20%

most people work in informal economy
2. crime

murder, kidnapping and armed assault occur regularly

powerful gangs control drug trafficking in many favelas

solution to economic challenges in rio

1. unemployment

the schools of tomorrow programme aims to improve education

free child care provided to allow teenage parents to return to education
2. crime

in 2013 pacifying police units were established to reclaim favelas from drug dealers

police have taken control of some crime dominated favelas

environmental challenges in rio

1. air pollution

causes around 5000 deaths per year

smog occurs in still conditions
2. traffic congestion

steep mountains limit where roads can go

high crime levels means people prefer to drive
3. water pollution

rivers polluted by open sewers in favelas as government hasnt paid for sewage pipes

oil spills from petrobras oil refinery
4. waste pollution

many favelas on steep roads so waste collection is difficult

solutions to environmental challenges in rio

1. air pollution and traffic congestion

expansion of metro system

new toll roads
2. water pollution

12 new sewage works built since 2004

5km sewage pipes installed
3. waste pollution

power plant set up which consumes 30 tonnes of rubbish a day and produces enough electricity for 1000 homes

rocinha

* largest favela in rio
* 90% of houses built with brick and with electricity, running water and sewerage systems
* bars, travel agents and shops

challenges in squatter settlements

1. crime

high murder rate of 20 per 1000
2. health

IMR as high as 50 per 1000
3. services

12% homes had no running water

30% homes have no electricity

50% have no sewerage connections

favela barrio project

* site and service scheme
* complexo do alemao is a group of favelas in rios north zone
* local authority has made many improvements

paved roads

pacifying police unit

improved sanitation

has the favela barrio project been a success or failure?

* quality of life, mobility and employment prospects of inhabitants have improved
* newly built infrastructure not being maintained
* residents lack skills and resources to make repairs

environmental planning in freiburg

* waste recycling
* reduced landfill by reducing annual waste disposal from 140,000 to 50,000 tonnes in 12 years
* reduced landfill by recycling more than 88% of packing waste
* reduced landfill by providing energy for 28,000 homes from burning non-recyclable waste

social planning in freiburg

* local people can invest in renewable energy resources
* financial rewards are given to people who compost their green waste and use textile nappies

economic planning in freiburg

* more than 10,000 people are employed in 1500 environmental businesses in the city
* a solar training centre provides training skills needed for the new solar technology
* the institute for solar energy systems has developed new systems for solar cooling and air conditioning

water conservation in freiburg

* waste water system allows rainwater to be retained, reused or seep back in the ground
* involves green roofs, unpaved tramways, pervious pavements

energy conservation in freiburg

* 400 solar panel installations in the city
* largest proportion of its renewable electricity comes from biomass using waste wood and rapeseed oil
* biogas is produced from organic waste which produces enough energy to heat freiburgs 3 pools

creating green space in freiburg

* 40% city is forested
* 44,000 trees have been planted in parks and streets
* only native trees and shrubs are planted in the 600 hectares of parks

reducing traffic congestion in freiburg

* integrated traffic plan
* tram network provides efficient, cheap and accessible public transport
* 70% population live within 500m of a tram stop
* 400km cycle paths
* restrictions on car parking spaces - in vauban district each one costs £20,000

reducing traffic congestion in singapore

* high petrol prices
* overhead railway system and efficient bus network
* restricted entry to city during rush hours
* result →45% less traffic and 25% fewer accidents in the city centre, 2/3 all daily journeys now by public transport

tourism in jamaica - economy

* in 2014 tourism contributed 24% of jamaicas gdp
* income from tourism is US$2 billion each year and taxes contribute further to development of the country

tourism in jamaica - quality of life

* in the northern tourist areas of montego bay and ocho rios wealthy jamaicans have a high standard of living
* however large numbers of people live nearby in poor housing with inadequate access to fresh water, healthcare and education

tourism in jamaica - the environment

* conservation and landscaping projects provide job opportunities
* community tourism and sustainable ecotourism is expanding in more isolated regions
* mass tourism can create environmental problems such as footpath erosion, excessive waste and harmful emissions