Topic 7: the Challenges of an Urban World

Topic 7: The Challenges of an Urban World

How have cities grown and what challenges do they face?
The world is increasingly
urbanised as cities grow
due to different processes. / Examine urbanisation trends globally
and across different regions, including
reasons for growth (migration and
internal growth). /

To learn a definition for urbanisation.
To understand why urbanisation is occurring – through migration (push-pull factors) and natural increase in cities.
To understand that urbanisation is now occurring more rapidly in developing countries.

Contrast the economic activities, spatial
growth and population of ‘megacities’
(cities with more than 10 million people)
in the developed and developing world. /

To learn a definition for megacity.
To understand the economic activity (jobs/businesses) undertaken in megacities.
To understand how megacities have grown, how the structure/layout is different in developing and developed countries.
To understand the population structures and how people live in megacities.

Examine urban challenges in the
developed world, including food, energy,
transport and waste disposal demands
that may lead to concentrated resource
consumption. / Examine urban challenges in the
developed world, including food, energy,
transport and waste disposal demands
that may lead to concentrated resource
consumption. /

To learn the key problems in cities in the developed world.

Examine urban challenges in the
developing world, including slum
housing, the informal economy and urban
pollution, that lead to low quality of life. /

To learn the key problems in cities in the developing world.

Cities in the developed
world have huge potential
for reducing their
environmental impact
(eco-footprint). / Investigate why eco-footprints vary from
city to city and assess how one named
city in the developed world is lessening
its eco-footprint by reducing energy
consumption and waste generation. /

To learn a definition for ‘eco-footprint’
To know how ‘eco-footprints’ are measured.
To know why eco-footprints can be different.
Know how one city e.g. York, has tried to reduce its eco-footprint. To be able to explain how it has reduced the amount of energy it uses and reduce the amount of waste if generates.

Analyse the potential for more
sustainable transport in a named city in
the developed world. /

To be able to describe how one city e.g. London has tried to make its transport more sustainable e.g. congestions charge, low emission zones, improving cycle provision (Boris Bikes), electric cars, SkyCycle bike routes.
Be able to discuss whether these strategies have been successful.

Different strategies can be
used to manage social and
environmental challenges
in developing world cities. / Consider the success of strategies to
improve quality of life in cities in the
developing world: self-help schemes,
the work of NGOs, urban planning (e.g.
Curitiba). /

To understand strategies introduced in LEDC cities to improve quality of life.
To be able to give an example and describe a self-help scheme
To be able to describe the work of non-governmental organisations.
To understand how the planning of urban areas can improve quality e.g. Curitiba.
To be able to give evidence as to whether these schemes have been successful.

Evaluate the advantages and
disadvantages of attempts to develop
less-polluted cities, e.g. Masdar City,
Mexico City. /

To learn a case study of one city where attempts have been made to make it less polluting.
To understand the advantages and disadvantages of strategies put in place to make it less polluting.