2. What do you see?
What questions would you ask?
What is negative?
What is positive?
Patayas Garbage Dump in Qezon City Phillippines
Source: http://www.geography.org.uk/download/GA_ADVThisBooksRubbish.pdf

3. Objectives
1. Understand the term sustainability
2. Be able to describe the characteristics of a sustainable city
3. To explain how certain social factors influence sustainability
of cities
Paradise city, Saõ Paulo Photo: Luiz Arthur Leirão
SocialSocial
SustainabilitySustainability
inin
citiescities

4. AQA A syllabus ….
Key idea:
• Attempts can be made to ensure that urban living is sustainable.
What you need to know:
1. Characteristics of a sustainable city.
2. Environmental factors:
• The importance of conserving the historic and natural
environment.
• Use of Brownfield sites.
• Reducing and safely disposing of waste.
• Providing adequate open spaces.
3. Social factors – including local people in the decision-making
process.
Provision of an efficient public transport system.
4. A case study of sustainable urban living.

5. Key words:
• Urbanisation ………………………………………..
• Sustainable Development: "development which meets
the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs." (Brundtland Report)
• Sustainable: …………………– environmental, economic,
social
• So what is a sustainable city?
An urban area where residents have a way of life that
will last a long time. The environment is not damaged
and the economic and social fabric, due to local
involvement are able to stand the test of time

6. What is ‘sustainable living’?
• This means doing things in a way now that lets
people have the things they need but without
reducing the ability of people in the future to
meet their needs
• Behaving in a way that doesn’t irreversibly
damage the environment or use up resources
faster than they can be replaced
• Cities need so many resources so it is unlikely
that they would ever be truly sustainable
but things can be done to make the city and
the way people live there more sustainable

7. SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
ECONOMIC
HOUSING
EDUCATION HOSPITALS
RECREATION
TRANSPORT
STANDARD OF LIVING
QUALITY OF LIFE
JOBS COSTS
TRADE
INDUSTRY
BUSINESS
NOISE, AIR,
WATER POLLUTION
WASTE, RECYCLING
VISUAL POLLUTION
LANDFILL
NATURAL RESOURCES
ENERGY
IS THIS A
SUSTAINABLE
URBAN AREA?

8. Planning issue 1
A housing area is to be redeveloped.
Suggest some ideas for how it is going to
be made more sustainable.

9. Suggestions ….
• Solar panels on the roof
• Catching rainwater from roof and using it to
flush the toilets
• Involve local communities
• Include open spaces
• Energy efficient housing design
• Recycling schemes
• Install meters for water and electricity
• Carbon – neutral homes e.g. BEDZED, London
• ??

10. Planning issue 2
Roads are increasingly congested.
How can you encourage people to
use their car less, and
sustainable transport more ?
Page
218 -
219

11. Suggestions ….
• Provide a frequent, efficient, safe, reliable, comfortable
and affordable public transport system
•Transport that uses less fuel and give out less pollution e.g.
some buses in London are powered by hydrogen and emit
water vapour
• Park and ride scheme
• Bus lanes – faster journeys
• Free bus passes for all pensioners and children to
encourage use
• Open a monorail, tram network
• Improve cycle routes and secure cycle parking near the
city centre
• Congestion charge for people wanting to drive into the city
centre
•

12. Planning issue 3
A lot of energy is provided by power
stations using fossil fuels. Suggest
sustainable energy sources and strategies
to use instead…
Source: E.on's coal-fired Ratcliffe-on-Soar power
station in Nottinghamshire. David Sillitoe/Guardian

13. What about ….
• Building wind turbines…
• Provide a grant for those people installing a
solar panel on their roof
• Collect any rubbish that can be burned
separately, and generate electricity with it.
• All new homes have to be fitted with energy
efficient technology.
• ??

14. Planning issue 4
A lot of people fill their bin each week
with rubbish that could have been
recycled instead. How can you discourage
non-sustainable waste disposal?
Page
s 215
- 216

15. Suggestions ….
• Provide everyone with recycling bins for
different types of waste e.g. paper, glass, tins…
• Increase the council tax for people who have
less in their recycling bin than their ‘normal’ bin.
• Open a recycling centre, where people are
paid for the rubbish that they bring e.g. glass
bottles
• Packaging which can be recycled

16. Challenge 5
A piece of derelict land (brownfield site) that
used to be a chemical works is going to be
redeveloped. Suggest some projects that could
improve the quality of life for people in the
city.
Page
216

17. suggestions….
• A sports centre, with subsidised entry fees to
encourage people to get fit
• A park
• A lake for recreational / sporting use
•??

18. Above all … Involve the local
community
• People are much more likely to support
sustainability initiatives like increased
recycling or new public transport
systems if they’re involved in making
the decisions about them.
• Including local people makes the
schemes more likely to succeed Page
217

19. Key
Features of a
Socially
Sustainable
city
* New homes are
………….
* Community links are …….
* Wherever possible, ………are
used instead of non-
renewable resources.
* Waste is seen as a
resource and is ………
wherever possible
* Public transport is
………….
• Areas of open space
are………………….
* Resources and services in
the city are …………….
PLENARYPLENARY
Blog

20. Key features of a sustainable city
• Resources and services in the city are accessible to
all.
• Public transport is seen as a viable alternative to
cars.
• Public transport is safe and reliable.
• Walking and cycling is safe.
• Areas of open space are safe, accessible and
enjoyable.
• Wherever possible, renewable resources are used
instead of non-renewable resources.
• Waste is seen as a resource and is recycled wherever
possible.
• New homes are energy efficient.
• There is access to affordable housing.
• Community links are strong and communities work
together to deal with issues such as crime and
security.
• Cultural and social amenities are accessible to all.

21. Getting the planning of a city right
means a more resilient economy,
healthier residents, a more beautiful
place and a better quality of life for
everyone. (http://www.sustainablecities.org.uk/M)
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/efficiencity/index.html

22. Exam question practise…

23. AQA spec A
2009
Increased public transport reduces the need for cars and so reduced
traffic congestion and less air pollution / recycling of waste means less
waste is put into landfills so having less environmental effect.
2 (c) 1x2. Max 1 for straight lift. (2 marks)
e.g. Increased public transport reduces the need for cars and so reduced traffic
congestion and therefore less air pollution
Recycling of waste means less waste is put into landfills so less environmental effect.

25. 4 marks
AQA A specimen paper

26. 2(c)(ii) Level 1 (Basic) 1–2 marks
Simple lifts from the stimulus material and/or no reference to a named
example.
Knowledge of basic information
Simple understanding
Few links; limited detail; uses a limited range of specialist terms
Limited evidence of sentence structure. Frequent spelling, punctuation
and grammatical errors.
There is less water produced. Pollution is reduced.
Level 2 (Clear) 3–4 marks
Linked statements, with at least the name of an appropriate example.
Knowledge of accurate information
Clear understanding
Answers have some linkages; occasional detail/exemplar; uses some
specialist terms where appropriate
Clear evidence of sentence structure. Some spelling, punctuation and
grammatical errors.
In Curitiba in Brazil, there are lots of cheap buses to reduce the number of
cars on the road, which reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases.
Waste collectors can sell rubbish to recyclers for a profit so less goes into
landfill sites.

27. 2 marks
4 marks
There is increased danger of accidents due to the greater number of
vehicles on the road. The increase in the amount of traffic can lead to air
pollution which impacts on peoples’ health. Buildings can be badly
affected because of the increase in the amount of traffic. Discouraging
people visiting/shopping in the settlement.

28. Level 1 (Basic) 1–2 marks
Simple statements. Knowledge of basic information. Simple understanding
Few links; limited detail; uses a limited range of specialist terms
Limited evidence of sentence structure. Frequent spelling, punctuation and
grammatical errors.
Mass transport systems improve public transport. Pedestrianisation
removes traffic from the street.
Level 2 (Clear) 3–4 marks
Linked statements, which clearly show how the solution described could reduce
the traffic problem. Knowledge of accurate information Clear understanding
Answers have some linkages; occasional detail/exemplar; uses some specialist
terms where appropriate Clear evidence of sentence structure. Some spelling,
punctuation and grammatical errors.
Mass transit systems like the Tyneside Metro and the trams in Sheffield and
Manchester are quick and efficient and are not held up by traffic jams and also
reduce air pollution / Bus priority lanes speed up buses and so more people will
use them reducing the need for so many cars to be on the road / Pedestrianising
city centres makes them safer for pedestrians and reduces noise and air
pollution / Increased car parking charges in the city centre will discourage car
use and encourage more people to use public transport. The increased profit
would be used to invest in better public
transport systems.

29. AQA B 2009
Q6b
How might the changes
improve the environment
and the lives of the
people living there?
6 marks
Explain why changes
might bring
disadvantages to some
of the original residents 4
marks

30. 6(b)(i) Level 1 (Basic) 1–2 marks
Simple statements indicating the changes, usually directly from Figure
7 without any attempt to relate to the impact on the environment or the
lives of the people.
Pedestrian crossing
trees planted
overhead wires removed.
Level 2 (Clear) 3–4 marks
Linked statements but does not cover both the environment and the
lives of the people.
Bathrooms built to replace outdoor toilets making it more healthy
Trees planted to improve the environment
pedestrian crossing to make it safer to cross the road.
Level 3 (Detailed) 5–6 marks
Linked and elaborated statements covering both the environment and
the lives of the people.
Cul-de-sacs created in order to stop through traffic and build-outs into
the street, which will slow the traffic and make it safer.
Derelict land restored and some houses demolished to provide open spaces for
children to play.
The planting of trees will soften the landscape and make the environment
more pleasant.

31. 6(b)(ii) Level 1 (Basic) 1–2 marks
Simple statements. Does not have to be confined to the changes
shown in Figure 7.
Loss of corner shops
Loss of community spirit
Increased cost of
houses.
Level 2 (Clear) 3–4 marks
Linked statements. At least two changes/effects for full marks.
People who have lived in the area for a long time have to move and
there is a loss of community spirit where everybody knew everybody.
The improved houses are more expensive to buy or rent so the local
people cannot afford them.
Gentrification takes place so that the richer
yuppies move in and can cause conflict with the long standing
inhabitants.

32. More information ….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1031438/
Pictured-The-floating-cities-day-house-climate-change-refugees.html
http://geovideos.fliggo.com/video/AKMIer2Y
Local Agenda 21
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/sustainability/Older/Local_Agenda21.htm
BedZED
http://www.bioregional.com/what-we-do/our-work/bedzed/

33. Acknowledgements
http://www.slideshare.net/GeoBlogs/grand-designs-sustainable-
city-task– Alan Parkinson
http://www.geography.org.uk/download/GA_ADVThisBooksRubbish.
pdf Paula Cooper
AQA Geography B Nelson Thornes
AQA Geography A Nelson Thornes
Understanding GCSE Geography Heinemann
GCSE Geography AQA A Specification CGP