Urban Development

megacities

cities with populations over 10 million people

Some megacities steadily grow in HICS which means…

• infrastructure can cope with population leading to little inequality

Some megacities have rapidly expanded which means…

• not all residents can be looked after so infrastructure is under high pressure

• inequality

rural-urban migration

the movement of people from the countryside to the towns and cities

natural increase

when the birth rate is higher than the death rate

Examples of push factors

• farming - intensive work and not well paid

• climate change - desertification, droughts

• access to services limited

• isolated - further away from city

Examples of pull factors

• higher paid jobs

• better eduction

• public transport

• more services available

Why is there a lack of access to healthcare and education for rapidly expanding cities?

• demand for services such as schools, doctors and dentists increases

• left with not enough facilities for population

Why is there a significant amount of squatter settlements in rapidly expanding cities?

• limited affordable housing available

• migrants have very little money saved up on arrival

• must settle for make-shift housing usually on outskirts of the city on unfavourable land such as next to railway tracks or on steep mountain sides

Why is there a high rate of unemployment in rapidly expanding cities?

• not all migrants guaranteed a job (can’t always find jobs online)+ arrive with availabe one

• can’t just move back home – many only have enough money for a one-way journey

• leads to informal work – street sellers, house

cleaners, etc.

• jobs don’t contribute to tax because in informal sector and often paid in cash - often open to exploitation

Why is there an air pollution issue in rapidly expanding cities?

• more people means more cars so traffic congestion increases

• more business means more factories and warehouses including machinery like forklift trucks, lorries + production conveyors

• leads to increasing air pollution that impacts locals’ health

• high levels of air pollution also have high levels of respiratory conditions, such as asthma or lung disease

• across the world, 5.5 million die from polluted air.

Why is there a waste and sewage issue in rapidly expanding cities?

• growing cities have growing volumes of waste to deal with

• squatter settlements have roads too narrow for rubbish bins to travel through.

  • therefore residents abandon their waste in street, which can encourage rats

• industries may cut corners + dispose of their waste illegally, avoiding charges for waste removal

• waste may be hazardous to wildlife + humans

  • polluting waterways with poisonous chemicals e.g. lead

• infrastructure must be built so sewage can be taken

away from the city so doesn’t contaminate waterways

How can we improve city life?

• governments can provide scholarships for training doctors + teachers so access to health + education

• new roads and new tolls introduced e.g charged for travelling through city centre

How can we improve the economy?

• provide more college places and night schools for all ages

How can we help the poorest?

• strict policing to reduce violence and discourage gangs

• squatter settlements can be rehomed into permanent homes for healthier and safer living

How can we protect the environment?

• more sewage plants + waste disposal sites to deal with increase in rubbish

• industries fined if caught polluting - stricter monitoring + enforcement needed