Unit 2A Urban Issues And Challenges Flashcards
Describe the urban trend in HICs
More economically developed. Urbanisation happens earlier. Slow rates of urban growth, many people moving away from overcrowded cities to rural areas
Describe the urban trends in LICs
Less economically developed. Not many of population currently living in urban areas. In general fastest rates of urbanisation in world are in LICs
Push factors affecting rate of urbanisation
- natural disasters
- mechanisation of agricultural equipment- farms require fewer workers so fewer jobs
- desertification can make land unproductive so people can no longer support themselves
- conflict/war can cause people to flee homes
Pull factors affecting rate of urbanisation
- more jobs in urban areas often better paid
- access to better health care and education
- to join family members who’ve already moved
- people think they’ll have better quality of life
Natural increase affecting rate of urbanisation
Natural increase- birth rate higher than death rate
Young people normally move to cities, they have children in city - increases proportion of population living in urban areas. Better healthcare in urban areas means people live longer
Emergence of mega cities
Higher rates of urbanisation leading to growth of mega cities. Mega city- urban area with more than 10 million people living there
describe Lagos
city in Nigeria- a newly emerging economy. it was the national capital until 1991,
what are the cause for growth in Lagos?
275,000 migrants + arrive every year, creating an outward urban sprawl of city into surrounding countryside. natural increase also causing population growth
Describe the importance of Lagos
80% of Nigeria’s industry based in and around Lagos and it’s now main financial centre in West Africa. city has major international airport and busy seaport
What are the social opportunities urban growth in Lagos has created ?
- more healthcare centres + hospitals + better range of medicines
- 68% of population have secondary education
- people can use electricity for cooking + light + developing businesses
- water treatment plants provide safe water piped directly to areas of city
What are the economic opportunities urban growth in Lagos has created?
- rapid growth=lots of construction jobs eg. building new commercial centre, Eko Atlantic
- home to many of country’s banks, government departments and manufacturing industries.there are two major ports and a fishing industry
- has a thriving film and music industry
What are the social challenges urban growth in Lagos has created?
- over 60% population live in slums eg. Makoko
- water bought in Makoko from communal water point but can be up to 3km away. Only electricity comes from illegal connections, often cut out.
- high levels of crime in Makoko- slum self-police by gangs
- communal toilets shared by 15 households, most waste goes into lagoon
- only one primary school in Makoko, many families can’t afford it
What are the environmental challenges urban growth in Lagos has created?
- 40% rubbish collected, large rubbish dumps contain toxic waste
- waste disposal and emissions from factories not controlled, leads to air + water pollution
- traffic congestion really bad, many face 2 hour commutes in rush hour known as the ‘go slow’
What are the economic challenges urban growth in Lagos has created?
-aren’t enough formal jobs for all migrants, people make money any way they can eg. scavenging for things to sell
Describe the distribution of population and major cities in the UK
population in UK=very uneven. many of major cities developed into conurbations- towns that have merged to form continuous urban areas. these areas have highest population density. major cities tend to be located in flat, low-lying parts of UK , particularly on coast or near major river.
