Contemporary Urban Environments Flashcards

Flashcards about Contemporary Urban Environments

What percentage of the global population lived in urban areas in 1950?

30%

What is now the percentage of people living in urban areas

Over 55%

Which part of the world is now experiencing accelerated urbanization?

The developing world

What is the expected percentage of the world population to live in urban areas by 2050?

68%

What are the reasons for urban growth?

Natural increase and rural-urban migration

What is urbanisation?

The growth in the proportion of people living in urban areas due to rural-urban migration and natural increase

Give some push and pull factors that lead people to move to urban areas

Push factors: famine, drought, poor healthcare, isolation. Pull factors: opportunities, jobs, education, better healthcare, hope

What are some advantages of urbanization?

More skills and access to better healthcare, reducing mortality. City develops over time with more workers for infrastructure projects

What are some disadvantages of urbanization?

Increase in unplanned housing (shanty towns), greater risk in natural disasters, increased water pollution, exploitation of the poor, large social divide

What is suburbanisation?

The movement of people from city centres to the outskirts of a city

What leads to economic and ethnic segregation in suburbs?

Wealthier middle-class citizens moving to the outskirts, leaving poorer and often foreign migrant workers in the center

What is a 'green belt'?

An area around a city where building is restricted to preserve the rural areas

What is counter-urbanisation?

The movement of people out of the city into surrounding villages and rural areas

Advantages of counter-urbanisation?

Forces inner-city to regenerate, reduces overcrowding and housing shortages, can potentially benefit the environment

Disadvantages of counter-urbanisation?

Higher rural house prices, increased traffic and congestion, less public transport use, conflict between existing and new residents

What is urban resurgence?

The movement of people back into city centers

What are main reasons for urban resurgence?

Lack of jobs in rural or suburban areas and development of more attractive housing

What is a megacity?

An urban area with over 10 million people living there

What are some of the reasons for megacity growth?

Rural-urban migration and natural increase. Migrants are also taking rapid economic growth into consideration.

What is a world city?

A city that has political and financial influence over the whole world.

Give economic process linked with urbanisation

Cities attract people from rural areas with more job opportunities leading to rural decline. Commercial farming can also take over subsistence farming

Give social process linked with urbanisation

Cities tend to have a higher living standard than rural areas due to Healthcare, Education and higher income. Economy grows leading to cultural hubs with museums and shopping centres

How does Deindustrialisation affect quality of life?

Unemployment directly leads to social deprivation increases with worsening health, education, crime, access to services and the living environment

Urban Development Corporations:

The government created agencies with use of private funding to restore derelict areas

What is urban form?

Urban form is the physical characteristics of a city, such as the size, shape population density and arrangement

What does the modern urban form feature?

Mixed development and Cultural Heritage Quarters

What does economic inequality cause?

Political unrest such as rioting, drug use, drug trafficking, health problems

Why immigrants tend to move to cities?

More jobs , Better access to healthcare and More Communal

Give factors that helps to manage urban issues

Improving transplant system such as high speed rails, introducing minimum wage, offer subsidies to new companies

What causes higher and more intense precipitation?

The UHI effect. Warmer air carries more water and then rain more.

What can catchment management minimise?

flooding, drought, water pollution and erosion

What is UHI effect?

Urban areas tending to be warmer than rural areas

What are sources of particulate matter, relating to Urban Air Quality?

Vehicle Exhausts, Burning of Refuse and Construction

Give ways to reduce air pollution

Congestion Charging, Pedestrianisation, Public Transport Improvements

What is the way to move from waste management economy to a reuse system?

Moving to circular economy

What does the term 'Zero waste' mean?

Not one where there is no waste, but one reuses its waste and fully values it financially and environmentally

Name some of the ways the municipal solid waste can be processes and reused for different purposes.

Incineration, Recovery and Burial

Which law sets targets for electrical retailers and distributors to provide a way for customers to recycle their old household electrical and electronic equipment when selling a newer version of the same item?

WEEE regulations (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

What are the 4 steps to prioritize different techniques in waste management?

Prevention, recycle, recovery, disposal

Local scale of environmental issues caused by cities

Impact the environment through increasing air pollution, water pollution, flood risk and generating lots of waste

Global Scale of Environmental Issues caused by cities

Increase the demand for resources such as food, water and energy and they are responsible for 60%of greenhouse gas emissions

Define Ecological Footprint

The amount of land that is needed to produce everything they consume and to absorb their waste

Define biocapacity

The capacity of an area to provide the resources needed and to absorb the waste produced

What are the factors of sustainability?

Natural, Physical, Social and Economic sustainability

Sustainable Opportunities in Urban Areas

People are more densely populated, so the provision of clean water and public transport is easier and cheaper as they don’t have to travel long distances.

Strategies for sustainable development?

Reducing the number of cars on the road, Increasing the amount of green space, Improving urban waste disposal, increasing renewable energy use

Mumbai Environment Issues

At risk of flooding due to intense monsoon, vulnerability to Tectonic Hazards

What is gentrification?

The process of renovating and improving a house or district so that it conforms to middle-class taste, often displacing poorer residents.

What are some effects of gentrification?

Increased property values, displacement of low-income residents, changes in neighborhood character, and potential cultural clashes.

Define urban sprawl.

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural areas, often characterized by low-density housing and increased car dependency.

What are the environmental impacts of urban sprawl?

Increased air pollution, habitat loss, water pollution, and higher energy consumption due to longer commutes.

What is urban decay?

The deterioration of the physical and social fabric of urban areas, often marked by abandoned buildings, high crime rates, and declining economic activity.

What factors contribute to urban decay?

Economic decline, population loss, aging infrastructure, and inadequate urban planning.

Name some strategies for urban renewal.

Demolition and redevelopment, infrastructure improvements, tax incentives for businesses, and community development programs.

What are the goals of sustainable urban development?

To create cities that are environmentally friendly, economically viable, and socially equitable, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What is the concept of 'New Urbanism'?

An urban design movement that promotes walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods with a variety of housing options, public spaces, and transportation choices.

How can urban farming contribute to sustainability?

By reducing transportation costs and emissions, improving access to fresh food, and creating green spaces within cities.