Urban Problems (Leaving Cert Geography): Revision Notes
Sustainable Cities
Introduction to urbanisation trends
Rural-to-urban migration has been happening in developed countries since the Industrial Revolution began. However, as economic development increases in developing nations, new urban areas are emerging and existing cities continue to grow. While urbanisation appears to have reached its peak in developed countries, cities in the developing world are still experiencing rapid population growth as people migrate from rural areas seeking improved living standards.
The need for sustainable urban development
Cities across the globe face significant challenges including pollution, traffic congestion, and various environmental problems caused by population growth. With continuing urbanisation trends, urban planners must find effective solutions to address existing issues such as:
- Urban sprawl
- Urban decay
- Inadequate services
- Environmental degradation
The goal is to minimise environmental impact while improving quality of life for city residents.
Urban planners face the challenge of accommodating growing populations while protecting the environment and maintaining livability for residents.
Cities of the future
Future urban areas must be better planned and offer superior services compared to current cities. Several key strategies can help achieve this:
Urban planning solutions
Urban sprawl represents one of the most pressing challenges and can only be addressed through more intensive use of existing urban land. This requires:
- Well-planned housing developments
- Modern and reliable public transport systems
- Reduced traffic congestion and air pollution through better transport links
Urban planning laws - Stricter regulations and well-developed policies on land zoning help ensure reduced interaction between industrial and residential areas, avoiding water contamination, noise pollution, and traffic congestion.
Counter urbanisation
Counter urbanisation offers a promising approach to preventing further urban sprawl. This involves developing towns so they can establish their own commercial and industrial centres, making them independent from the main city. Examples near Dublin include Navan and Drogheda, which have developed their own commercial centres.
Counter urbanisation - The development of towns to have their own commercial and industrial centres, making them independent from main cities and reducing urban sprawl.
Community involvement
Greater emphasis on community participation is essential in planning new towns. Social integration improves when residents can create goals and visions for their communities, as demonstrated in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary. This approach helps avoid problems such as social stratification.
Features of sustainable cities
Sustainable cities must become both environmentally friendly and people-friendly. Key characteristics include:
Pedestrianisation and transport
- Pedestrianised inner cities reduce traffic congestion and air pollution
- Well-developed public transport links decrease pollution levels
- Clean city centres provide better working and living environments
- Transport connections should link residential areas while avoiding high-volume city traffic
- Pedestrianisation encourages people to live within city centres, preventing urban sprawl and the doughnut effect
The "doughnut effect" occurs when city centres become hollow as residents move to suburbs, leaving empty commercial and residential spaces in the urban core.
Residential planning and environmental features
Residential areas require careful planning with:
- Sufficient green areas for recreation and relaxation
- Energy-efficient houses to greatly reduce energy consumption for heating
- Better waste disposal practices and waste reduction programmes
- These measures significantly reduce the carbon footprint of cities
Carbon footprint - The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly by human activities, measured in equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Environmental benefits
The combination of pedestrianisation, efficient public transport, energy-efficient housing, and proper waste management creates cities that are:
- More environmentally sustainable
- Better places to live and work
- Less polluted and congested
- More community-focused
Case study example: Cloughjordan
Case Study: Cloughjordan, County Tipperary
Cloughjordan in County Tipperary demonstrates successful community involvement in sustainable urban planning. Residents have actively participated in creating goals and visions for their town, resulting in better social integration and reduced social problems.
This example shows how community-driven planning can lead to more sustainable and socially cohesive urban development.
Key Points to Remember:
- Sustainable cities combine environmental friendliness with people-friendly design to create better urban environments
- Counter urbanisation helps prevent urban sprawl by developing independent town centres
- Pedestrianisation reduces traffic congestion and air pollution while encouraging city centre living
- Community involvement in planning leads to better social integration and more successful sustainable development
- Energy efficiency and proper waste management significantly reduce a city's carbon footprint