What do these images have in common?

What is urban? With a partner create your own a definition Think of 5 words which best describe ‘urban’

The Urban Environment Lesson Objectives: To understand the global patterns of population change. To understand the reasons for rapid urban growth in developing countries.

Introduction. In the past fewer than one person in three lived in a town or city. Today half of the world’s population live in an urban area and by 2015 it is expected to go up to about 60%. In 1950 New York was the only global megacity; by 2015 it is estimated that there will be about 27 megacities.

What is a megacity? 101 East - Mega Cities - Mega Problems-29 May 08 - Part 1 – You tube A megacity is usually defined as a metropolitan area with a total population in excess of 10 million people. A megacity can be a single metropolitan area or two or more metropolitan areas that converge. The terms conurbation metropolitan areapopulationmetropolitan area conurbation metropolitan areapopulationmetropolitan area conurbation Greater Tokyo city has 30 million people.

Megacity- Video Task 101 East - Mega Cities - Mega Problems-29 May 08 - Part 1 – You tube Watch the video clip and note the; –Advantages of a megacity –The disadvantages of a megacity –The future for megacities

Agglomerations.html Agglomerations.html

BBC news – an Indian city busting at it’s seams. sia/ stm sia/ stm Watch the video clip and jot a few points down in your books.

Rates of urban population growth. Definition: Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities Urbanisation is generally linked to economic development. As countries move from a mainly rural agricultural economy to a more industrial commercial economy population becomes more concentrated in towns and cities. Urbanisation is generally linked to economic development. As countries move from a mainly rural agricultural economy to a more industrial commercial economy population becomes more concentrated in towns and cities.

What causes urbanisation? Urbanisation occurs because people move from rural areas (countryside) to urban areas (towns and cities). This usually occurs when a country is still developing Prior to 1950 the majority of urbanisation occurred in MEDC’s (more economically developed countries) Since 1950 the most rapid growth in urbanisation has occurred in LEDC's (Less Economically Developed Countries) in South America, Africa and Asia.

People migrate in the hope of improving their living conditions and having a better chance in life. They expect to, or, are led to believe, that the city will provide everything they need. The reality is often different. With little or no money, without work skills and poor education they are unable to buy a house and have to make temporary shelter from cheap or waste material. Few people find jobs, almost all remain very poor.

Interactive map showing urban growth. /06/urbanisation/html/urbanisation.stm /06/urbanisation/html/urbanisation.stm Make note of the projections of growth over time. Record what you seen. Note names of countries and population figures.

1. Rural to urban migration is happening on a massive scale due to population pressure and lack of resources in rural areas. These are 'push' factors’. 2. People living in rural areas are 'pulled' to the city. Often they believe that the standard of living in urban areas will be much better than in rural areas. They are usually wrong. People also hope for well paid jobs, the greater opportunities to find casual or 'informal' work, better health care and education. 3. Natural increase caused by a decrease in death rates while birth rates remain high. The three main causes of urbanisation in LEDC's since 1950 are: The three main causes of urbanisation in LEDC's since 1950 are:

Push factors – people may wish to get away from things that they do not like. 1. Poor wages and shortages of jobs. 2. Difficult conditions, with poor housing and low standards of living. 3. Lack of services such as schools, hospitals, clean water and electricity. 4. Chance of natural disasters and crop failures. 1. More opportunities in industry and services, with higher wages. 2. Better housing and better quality of life. 3. Better chance of services such as schools, medical care, water and electricity supply. 4. Fewer natural disasters in cities. Pull factors –people are attracted to things that they like.

Urban sprawl. Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is the spreading of a city and its suburbs over rural land at the fringe of an urban area. suburbs As the urban areas develop, there is a growing demand for building land. Since land is limited, there is increasing pressure to build on the rural – urban fringe. In recent years more and more people are moving away from urban areas to live in more suburban fringe areas. It is seen as areas with more open space and better living conditions but is still close for work and leisure persuits.

Urban Sprawl It goes on and on and on...

In many developing countries the wealthier people are moving from the city centres to the more affluent ( rich) suburbs, because they feel safer away from the slums and squatter areas found in inner cities. ( rich) suburbs, because they feel safer away from the slums and squatter areas found in inner cities.

Key terms to learn 1. Urbanisation 2. Urban sprawl 3. Suburbs.

Homework Complete the where do people live worksheet. Research the number of people that live there. Suggest reasons for the numbers of people. –E.g. Antarctica- Population is 1,000 this is low because it is covered by ice and the coldest, driest and windiest continent in the world.