Topic Summaries

Case study – urbanisation opportunities and challenges

IGCSE > Geography > Pearson IGCSE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Patterns of urban change > Case study – urbanisation opportunities and challenges
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Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Energy supply

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Location and importance of city
  • Location: south-east coast of Brazil
  • Population: 6.211 million people (2022)
  • Nationally important trading port and oil industry and is internationally significant as a major tourist destination.
Opportunities from urban growth
  • Healthcare: medical teams visit favelas, improving life expectancy and reducing infant mortality.
  • Education: volunteer teachers and grants for schools help children stay in education.
  • Water supply: 95% of favelas had mains water by 2014 after building treatment plants.
  • Energy: new power lines and a nuclear generator reduce blackouts caused by illegal tapping of electricity.
  • Economic: Rio provides 6% of Brazil’s jobs to industries like oil, retail, and tourism.
Challenges from urban growth
  • Waste disposal: narrow streets in favelas prevent rubbish collection, leading to pollution and diseases like cholera.
  • Traffic congestion: Rio de Janeiro experiences traffic jams in the city centre as many people travel by car because it is considered safer. However, this contributes to air pollution. The Teleférico do Alemão cable cars provide residents with a free return ticket daily, offering a 6-minute commute time.
  • Water pollution: sewage from favelas pollutes rivers, harming aquatic life.

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