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Case Studies

Challenges for the Planet (Paper 1):

The Laki volcanic eruption 1783 - Natural event effecting global temperature

Bangladesh –Effects of climate change Hockerton housing project - Local

response to climate change Unilever - Multinational with a

sustainability plan Interface – Multinational with a

sustainability plan

Congestion charging – Controlling emissions from transport in urban areas

Barclays bikes – Transport scheme in an urban area

Ecuador – Resource extraction from a tropical rainforest

Papua New Guinea – Resource extraction from a tropical rainforest

Tectonic Landscapes (Paper 2):

Montserrat – Causes and effects of a volcanic eruption

Coastal Landscapes (Paper 2):

Happisburgh – Coastal defences

River Landscapes (Paper 2):

Boscastle – Causes of flooding Sheffield – Effects of flooding

Blanford Forum – Managing floods

Wasteful World (Paper 2):

Camden – Recycling in the UK Germany – Recycling in an HIC Athabasca River, Canada – Non-

renewable energy source

The London Array – Renewable energy source

East croft District heating scheme – Local scale solution

Settlement Change (Paper 3):

South Wales – Linear settlement Western Isles – Rural depopulation Uffington Village – Counter

urbanisation

Isle of Skye – Counter urbanisation Bradford – Deindustrialisation Vaux – Redevelopment Dhaka – Rural depopulation

Population Change (Paper 3):

China – One child policy Singapore – Have three or more policy China – Population distribution

UK – Population distribution UK – Ageing population

Economic Change (Paper 3):

Toyota – Secondary sector in the UK China – Industrialised MIC

A Tourists World (Paper 3):

Blackpool – Resort development Benidorm – Resort development

Nepal – Impacts of tourism Trinidad – Eco Tourism

Challenges for the Planet – Paper 1

The Laki volcanic eruption 1783 – A case study of a catastrophic event effecting global temperature:

Location: Southern Iceland, off the North East coast of Western Europe

Background:

The eruption lasted 8 months spraying millions of tonnes of poisonous gasses over Iceland

It was the largest lava flow for a thousand years at 13KM3 which spread over 500KM2

The smaller particles combined with water vapour to form a dense fogEffects of the eruption:

The eruption killed much of the local vegetation, which resulted in the death of many animals which lead to a famine which killed a third of the population

The death of animals meant that there were fewer methane emissions which means lower carbon emissions

The eruption resulted in 322 000 000 000 KG of greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere; resulting in an increased global temperature

The particles released into the atmosphere blocked solar radiation leading to a lowered global temperature

Bangladesh – A case study of the effects of climate change:

Location:

Background:

Bangladesh is a hazard spot with cyclones and flooding posing a threat to its population

The GDP per capita is only $1900 with 20% of the population living in extreme poverty

Many of these people are threatened by climate change without contributing to it Impacts of climate change in Bangladesh:

Tropical cyclones are becoming more frequent – however it is unclear if this is due to climate change - rising sea levels are also a threat to Bangladesh as most of the land has an elevation of less than 10m

In November 2007 a super cyclone (Sidr) devastated southern Bangladesh with wind speed of 223KM/H

The cyclone killed more than 3000 people and effected another 7 million There were also secondary impacts from the seawater being driven inland and

effecting groundwater and sewage systems Hockerton housing project – A case study of a local response to climate change


Location: Hockerton, Nottinghamshire, Central England

Background:

The UKs first self-sufficient ecological housing development Consists of 5 terraced houses as the law dictates that more than this will require a

road with streetlights The aim of the project is to reduce the environmental impact of everyday living The site is 10 ha The typical energy use for the house is about 10kWhrs/day

Eco features:

The roofs, walls and floors are all insulated with CFC free polystyrene The roof is covered in soil so that no part of the house freezes in cold weather; in

addition to this in the summer the soil has a cooling effect – thus reducing the need for AC

Skylights and windows control the temperature as there are no ACs or heaters on the site

A reservoir collects rainwater which is filtered and treated with chlorine for non-consumption purposes

Drinking water is captured from the roods and stored in a tank where it is treated with UV light

70% of the energy used on the site is from a self-made sustainable resource including 2 wind turbines and a solar panel system

A reed bed sewage system is used to process waste water A heat recovery unit is used to heat the homes during the winter along with a water

pump that heats water from the greenhouse

Limitations and commitments of residents:

The lease allows each family to one just one car Residents must also grow their own food Residents must also commit to 300 hours unpaid a year to manage and maintain the

site

Interface – A case study of a multinational with a sustainability plan


Background:

Largest manufacturer of commercial carpets The CEO aims to make it the first sustainable corporation

The company has identified 7 goals to improve sustainability:

Eliminate waste in all areas of business Eliminate toxic substances from products, vehicles and facilities Use renewable energy sources Redesigning process and products to stop using materials out of the crust Using resource efficient transport to reduce waste and emissions Create a culture among stakeholders the integrates sustainability principles into

everyday living Create a new business plan that demonstrates the value of sustainability based

commerce

Unilever - A case study of a multinational with a sustainability plan

Background:

One of the world’s largest companies Owns a large variety of brands Have several sustainability policies for each product range They plan to halve their environmental footprint of manufacturing and use of

products by 2020

Unilever Tea Kenya:

Trying to improve wood burning for drying tea leaves Drying wood for longer reduces moisture making it more efficient as a fuel Reduces wood consumption by 25% Higher output leads to a reduction in fuel wood as it is being used Coppicing means that the trees are cut back to stimulate growth Increases wood supply by 15%

Unilever Sustainability Plan:

Unilever believe that the customer has the highest environmental impact Therefore they have developed products which reduce their impact 68% of Unilever’s greenhouse gas footprint is courtesy of its customers One example is the Persil washing concentrate:

o It uses 50% less packaging – this means that fewer lorries are needed for transport


o It required 50% less water when in useo When used it can operate at cooler temperatures which can reduce the

amount of energy consumed by an appliance (up to 40% less energy)o Unilever believe that if everyone used this product they would save 4 million

tonnes of CO2 which is equivalent to taking 1 million cars of the road

Unilever suggest that by becoming more sustainable they may also become more profitable.

Congestion charging – A case study of controlling traffic in an urban area

Location: Central London, England

How it works:

The system is operated by transport for London (TFL) Drivers must pay a daily fee to drive in central London (from £10.50 to £14) Drivers can then drive around freely as many times as they wish within the day A network of cameras read number plates when vehicles enter the area In 2013 a discount was introduced for electric and plug in hybrid vehicles

Aims:

To improve London air quality Reduce congestion in central London

Statistics:

The system has reduced the distance driven in central London from 1.2bn km in 2002 to 1bn km 2011

It has raised £1bn for TFL The number of cars entering the area has dropped by 70 000 or 21% Greenpeace who support the system claim that pollution has fallen by 20% The London Ambulance Service reports a tripling in survival rates due to less traffic TFL suggests that since the introduction of the system traffic fell 15% leading to a

30% improvement in journey time

Problems:

Some suggest that the traffic jams have not improved and the price is not worth it Many driving associations are against the system

Boris Bikes – A case study of a sustainable transport scheme

Location: Central London, England


Background:

Launched in the summer of 2010 Has 11500 bikes and 742 docking stations The bikes provide Londoners with an environmentally sustainable method of

transport Transport for London (TFL) provide maps with routes that are suitable for new riders

who may be reluctant to use main roads TFL also provides training to those who do not know how to use a bike In 2015 the bank Santander took over from Barclays bank as the main sponsor TFL has contracted the company Serco to operate and manage the bikes

Prices:

An access fee must first be paid in order to receive a key which is £3, this key is used to undock bicycles

o 24 hours - £2 o 1 week - £5o 1 year - £45

A further fee must also be paid for each time the bike is usedo First 30 mins. – free o Each additional period – £2

The bike must be returned within 24 hours or else the user may have to pay a £300 fee, they must also pay this fee if they damage the bike

Problems:

Every night the bikes are collected and redistributed around the city in order to cope with morning demand, however this uses vehicles which pollute the environment, although most of these vehicles are powered by electricity. It can also be argued that the people hired to do this are an additional cost, without this system the hire will be much cheaper.

Some people also argue that the bikes and the docks to dock them in are not available in the places they want at the times they want.

Recent polls suggest that the bikes are the least satisfactory mode of public transport in London.

The bikes are also not economically sustainable, this is because there was an initial cost of £100 000 000 to set up. The bikes also cost £15 000 000 each year to run and maintain, however in the first nine months of operation the service made a total revenue of £2 000 000 which is not even enough to break even. Roughly 40% of the revenue comes from £150 late fees.

Oil from Ecuador – A case study of natural resource extraction in a tropical rainforest


Location: Oriente, Ecuador North West of South America

Background:

In 1969 the government started to lease land to large companies for the excavation of oil

First developed in 1972 by Texaco There are few environmental laws and as a result a large amount of damage has

been done to the environment due to the excavation of oil A large amount of tension also exists between companies and locals, as there are

conflicts over land rights and health concerns

Impacts/Effects:

4.3 million gallons of toxic waste is discharged into the environment everyday Toxic contaminants are reaching unsafe levels in drinking water up to 1000 times the

recommended safety standards Local health workers report an increase in ailments they believe to be related to the

contamination of the drinking water

Management initiatives:

Preservation areas set up A new constitution in 1998 meant people had to be consulted on development Education initiatives Replanting areas to re-establish habitats

Palm oil production in Papua New Guinea - A case study of natural resource extraction in a tropical rainforest

Location: Off the north coast of Australia

Background:

Large multinational organisations set up a nucleus estate They then take on local farmers who grow the oil palms These local farmers must first pay to buy equipment and they must sell their harvest

to the nucleus estate company who own the mills needed to produce the oil The farmers must bear all costs including the labour, maintenance and cost of land This is called spreading the risk as the multinational has the least risk The farmers depend on the global palm oil price

Effects/Impacts:

A move away from traditional land use Pollution of water sources


Farmers and owners become dependent on the industry, which can be a problem if the price of oil changes

Plantations reduce the biodiversity as habitats are destroyed

Management initiatives:

Introduction of ecotourism helps to encourage locals to preserve the environment Selling of local produce to benefit local economy Educating main importers on the need to protect tropical forests

Tectonic Landscapes – Paper 2

Montserrat – Case study of the causes and effects of a volcanic eruption:

Location: Leeward Islands, Caribbean – British territory

Background:

The island of Montserrat lies on a convergent plate boundary between an oceanic and continental plate called the Puerto Rico Trench. Between 1995 and 1997 a volcano on Soufriere Hills erupted large quantities of lava, ash and pyroclastic flows.

Causes:

As the Oceanic slab of crust descends, sediments, water and the heat of the mantle cause the wedge of mantle above the slab to melt. The molten rock is less dense than the surrounding crust and rises to the surface. The magma formed at a depth of around 6km, with a temperature of 820–885°C, and then partially crystallised before a new injection of deep magma boosted it towards the surface.

Effects:

Social Economic Environmental23 people died

Half the population evacuated to the north of the island and eventually left to England

The capital Plymouth became abandoned

The port and airport were closed badly effecting the tourism industry

Two thirds of the island was covered in ash

Crops and animals were destroyed by volcanic ash

Fires were caused by volcanic gasses lighting

Many people living on the island relied on farming as their main source of income. Most farmers used the money they earned from the previous year’s harvest to plant new crops which means their farms act as a bank account, however the volcano destroyed their crops which means that they would not have any income for the year.

Furthermore most of these farmers eventually left the island to England; here they would be forced to work in low end jobs as their skills in farming are undesirable due to the lack of farms in England.

Coastal Landscapes – Paper 2

Happisburgh – A case study of coastal defences

Location: East coast of England

Background:

Between 2002 and 2007 the Happisburgh coast retreated about 18 meters as a result 3 houses were destroyed.

The cliff was made of soft rock which is easier to erode in addition to this there was a large fetch which resulted in more destructive waves

During this time the cliffs only defence were revetments which were not properly maintained and did not function properly

The government refused to spend on coastal defences and started a managed retreat

Actions:

In March 2007 the Norfolk District Council started a foundation where each donation would buy a rock that would be used as rock armour in front of the cliff

As a result of the new defences the cliff retreat has slowed down Plants have started to grow in the cliff which is good as the soil is able to settle and

get harder which will add to the strength of the cliff However the rock armour restricts access to the beach and looks unsightly

Swanage Area – A case study of coastal management:

In Durlston Bay several methods were used to protect the apartments and houses on the cliff top. Erosion mainly occurred in one place where there was a major weakness in the geology. The methods used here included:

Cliff Regrading – This extended it forward at the base, making the slope longer and therefore less steep

Installing drainage – This removed excess water so that the slope was not as heavy or as well lubricated after rain

Placing Rip Rap – Large granite boulders were placed at the base of the cliff

The Swanage bay area needed different methods of defence as the erosion occurred along a considerable length of cliff rather that at one point. The methods used included:

Sea wall – This was built in 1920 and was supposed to act as a barrier to wave attack Groynes – These reduced longshore drift and helped make sure that a beach

remained in place to absorb wave energy Beach replenishment – This worked with the Groynes to ensure a good size of beach


Boscastle, 2004 – A case study on the causes of flooding:

Location: West coast of England

Cause EffectBoscastle sits on the confluence of three rivers: the Valency, Jordan and Paradise

This means that a large amount of water was funnelled into a small area

The flooding coincided with a high tide This means that the river already had quite a high discharge and a higher potential of a flood

The soil was already saturated due to previous storms, 185mm of rain had fallen prior to the floods

This means that the rainwater was not absorbed into the ground as it was already saturated, as a result there was increased surface run off

Surrounding areas were made up mainly of agricultural land

This meant that there was less interception storage therefore most of the rainwater was able to get to the surface at the time

Some of the areas under the drainage basin are made of slate

Slate is an impermeable material which meant that the water was not absorbed into the ground

Sheffield, 2007 – A case study of the effects of flooding:

Location: Central England, on the river Don

Cause: The wettest month on record as the average rainfall was 140mm

Effects:

Social Economic EnvironmentalTwo deaths

No electricity

Schools closed

1473 houses destroyed

Bus service disrupted

Roads closed

Businesses destroyed

People cannot get to work

Mall closed for six days

Damaged goods

Over a billion pounds in insurance claims

Cattle washed away

High risk of disease

Contaminated water

Agricultural land lost


Blanford Forum – A case study on flood management:

Location: River Stour, Dorset south of England

Flood history:

Badly effected by flooding in late 20th century 1979 had two floods which flooded a total of 140 properties Some 180 properties were at risk

Causes:

Natural HumanUpstream of the area there is an area of impermeable clay which encouraged surface runoff

There is a narrow floodplain which means that the river was not able to hold much water

Rainfall was very intense which increased the discharge

Areas of woodland had been cut down which resulted in less interception and increased surface runoff which ultimately lead to a higher discharge

Flood management:

Hard Management Soft ManagementA flood wall which is 2.5m high and a relief channel 1m deep protect houses and shops

A pumping station pumps water further downstream

A flood bank protects an industrial estate

An area of wash land protects an industrial area and houses

Kitchen waste:

All cooked and raw foods

Garden waste:

Grass cuttings, leaves, bark, pruning’s, dead flowers and twigs

A Wasteful World – Paper 2

The London Borough of Camden – A case study of recycling in the UK:

Location: North London, England

Background:

Camden has a population of 228 000 living in 92 000 households

In 2004 the council collected 85 000 tonnes of household waste during the year

In 2006 the council developed a waste strategy with specific targets to be achieved by 2010

One of the targets was to recycle 35% of household waste

The goal was to be achieved by:

Increasing participation in household recycling to 60% Increasing the amount of recycling collected from housing estates by 10% Increasing the amount of recycling collected from schools by

10% Recycling 70% of the rubbish brought to the local recycling

centre Providing all parks and open spaces with recycling banks Putting recycling banks in tube stations Providing a fortnightly garden waste collection for the area Trialling a kitchen waste collection scheme Introducing a scheme, either fines or incentives, to encourage more people to

recycle

Outcome:

In 2007 recycling in Camden was 27% compared to 17% in 2004 Twice weekly collection of household waste is sent to the Energy from Waste

incinerator or to landfills A doorstep recycling scheme operates weekly by Veolia Recycling at the local recycling centre has increased from 58% in 2004 to 70% in

2008 mainly due to the upgrades that took place which allow it to recycle more products

Large recycling bins have been placed in three parks in Camden Recycling advisors operate in schools and on housing estates

Green/Kitchen Waste33%

Paper and Card28%

Misc.12%

Plastics11%

Textiles7%

Glass6%

Metal3%

The different types of waste colected in Camden in 2004


What happens to the recycling in Camden?

Paper and card are recycled into other paper products Glass, cans and plastic are sent to an MRF (materials reclamation facility) From here they are sorted into different material types Glass bottles and jars are crushed into sand and used in construction Metals are remade into metal products Plastics are made into planter pots or recycling bins Food and garden waste goes to an industrial composting facility where it is shredded

and put into composting tunnels for 12 weeks, they are then fit for use in agriculture

Germany – A case study of waste disposal in an HIC:


Location: Central Europe

Background:

Germany produces about 60 million tonnes of waste a year, its four main waste disposal options are:

Landfill Incineration Recycling Exporting waste

Landfill:

Germany has impermeable geology, so waste can be buried in holes created by mining and mineral extraction

Relatively cheap and can be used for nuclear waste Impermeable rock reduces the need for lining as it will not let waste or gasses seep

through to the surrounding area and become a health hazard

Incineration:

Germany has 68 incinerators They have a total capacity of 18 million tonnes a year Most of them burn refuse derived fuel (RDF) which is waste which has been dried,

sorted and shredded and then converted into blocks This process makes it easier to convert the heat of the incinerator into electricity and

the heat can be used to heat nearby homes However there is concern that the gasses released from incineration are harmful Incineration is also considered by some to be a waste of valuable resources There is also opposition to incineration in Germany because RDF incinerators are

exempt from the carbon emission laws in the EU

Recycling:

Germany has very strict laws on recycling which means that people are very careful to recycle and do it properly

However local recycling facilities can only handle a third of the recycling, the rest is shipped to countries like Denmark where the government pays for the waste to be recycled

Germany has also developed the ‘green dot’ scheme, this means that manufactures haves to pay all recycling costs if they do not pay to join the scheme, when a license has been purchased they can have a green dot logo on their products to show they are contributing to the collection and recycling of their packaging, the less packaging


there is the lower the cost of the licence this has led to a reduction in the amount of packaging used

The result of this is that it has reduced waste by 1 million tonnes a year Also 60% of household waste is recycled across Germany However recycling is expensive at about $30 a person

Exporting Waste:

Suitable sites for landfill are running out in Germany Germany exports 1.8 million tonnes of non-hazardous waste per year to countries

such as Spain and China who have spare capacity and see it as a way of earning more money for their economies

Athabasca River, Canada – A case study of a non-renewable energy source

Location: Alberta, Canada, North America

Background:

The area around the Athabasca river has oil resources in the form of tar sands An estimated 180 million barrels of bitumen are thought to lie in the sand deposit Previously it was thought that exploiting this resource was uneconomical, however

dwindling oil supplies have led to the rising cost of oil

Local concerns:

Most tar extraction is done through surface mining leading to the clearance of vegetation and habitats

The energy required to separate the oil from sand is enough to heat 3 million homes Large volumes of water is required to extract oil from the sand Greenpeace estimate a consumption of 349 million cubic meters of water a year The water can become contaminated with heavy metals which has led to deformities

in fish downstream

Global concerns:

The refining of bitumen releases 5-15% more CO2 than the refining of crude oil Removal of surface vegetation will affect the oxygen in the atmosphere

The London Array – A case study of a renewable energy source


Background:

The London Array is planned to be the largest off shore wind farm in the world and is located off the Kent

The first phase which was completed in 2012 has 175 wind turbines which generate 630 megawatts of electricity

This is enough for 470 000 homes

Local concerns:

Turbine blades cause on average 4 bird deaths per turbine per year The turbulence from the turbines can lead to temperature changes in the air Turbines also create noise pollution with older models producing up to 50 decibels

Global concerns:

The construction of wind turbines produces CO2

Eastcroft District Heating Scheme – A case study of a local scale solution energy wastage

Location: Nottingham, Central England

Background:

Operated by Waste Recycling Group (WRG) 150 000 tonnes of waste material is burned every year at the facility, this produces

steam which is used to supply 1000 homes, the local mall the Nottingham Trent University, government buildings and offices

The scheme also generates electricity for 5000 homes

Expansion plans:

WRG had plans to expand the facility to increase capacity to 250 000 tonnes of waste a year

Nottingham currently sends 100 000 tonnes of waste to landfill sites outside the city, the expansion can accommodate this

Recycling at Eastcroft:

The plant also recycles metal that is left behind in the incinerator 3000 tonnes of iron and steel is reclaimed each year, most of this is used in the

construction of girders The ash that is a by-product of the burning is also recycled and is used in road

construction The incinerator operates at 850-1100oC to ensure complete combustion, then the

emissions are filtered and released into the atmosphere


Opposition to the scheme:

Gasses are being released into the atmosphere The ash also contains poisonous metals such as lead and mercury Some believe the scheme also encourages the production of waste Environmentalists believe that the emissions are not monitored or regulated

properly The waste burned is mainly industrial and is brought in from surrounding areas

Settlement Change – Paper 3

South Wales – A case study of a linear settlement:

Location: South West UK

Background:

South wales was important for its coal mining and iron working between the 18th and the mid-20th century, however it was situated in several valleys one of the most famous being the Rhonda valley

Most material that was mined here was transported through roads, railways and canals on the valley floor

Small isolated settlements were built for workers and their families As these settlements could not expand vertically up the valley they expanded along

the valley, this eventually meant that the isolated settlements got closer together to form one large linear settlement

Western Isles – A case study of rural depopulation:

Location: North West coast of the UK

Factors encouraging depopulation:

Demographic Economic Social EnvironmentalYoung adults leave because of job opportunities and further education

Difficult to make a living due to low wages

Limited access and sense of isolation

Harsh physical environment

Limited job opportunities

Media influences people to move

Effects of depopulation:

When young adults leave there are fewer people at reproductive age, this will result in fewer children being born (lower birth rate), and this means that there are fewer people to use services such as the school and transport services which will close down as a result. This will lead to increased migration resulting in other businesses closing; furthermore a smaller population will lead to increased cost of utilities and abandoned crofts and villages. Also a lower birth rate will result in an ageing population.


Uffington Village – A case study of counter urbanisation

Location: Central England

Reasons for living in Uffington:

Economic Social EnvironmentalMany job opportunitiesCheaper housingLower cost of living

Low crime rateGood road connections to nearby townsNo overcrowding

Surrounded by farmlandLower pollution

Isle of Skye – A case study of urban depopulation

Location: North West Scotland

Reasons for moving to the Isle of Skye:

In 1995 a bridge was built which gave Skye a direct link to the mainland The bridge and two ferry links improved accessibility to the island In 2004 the tolls were removed from the bridge Skye also offers good transport links within the island Skye also offers good education and good scenery which is what attracts people to

retire on Skye Improvements in ICT also make telecottaging possible, it also allows people to work

from home or anywhere that is not the office Skye also attracts a lot of tourists which means that there are many job

opportunities in the tourism industry Other reasons for moving to Skye include:

o Low crime rateso Low noise pollution / pollution in generalo No overcrowding

Vaux – A case study of redevelopment

Location: Sunderland, North East England

Background:

13 hectare brownfield site which used to be the site of a brewery which closed in 1999

The derelict brewery became notorious for a high crime rate which caused the area to become rundown

The brewery was demolished and a plan has been drawn up to provide 1000 new homes, 3000 new jobs, a large hotel and a shopping centre on this piece of land


Bradford – A case study of deindustrialisation and renewal

Location: West Yorkshire, Central England

Background / History:

Bradford has a population of 520 000 20% of the population is made up of migrants from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh Bradford’s main industry was textiles, which offered many jobs for the migrants In the second half of the 20th century the industry collapsed as products can be

produced cheaper elsewhere

Impacts:

The collapse of the industry caused tension between the ethnic groups as they all lost their jobs

Locals had to compete with foreigners for the limited jobs The collapse of the industry left several derelict buildings which made the area look

rundown and also attracted a high crime rate The government responded by:

o Finding a new range of economic activities to support the cityo Find new uses for the lando Shake off the image of an old run down city

Bradford Today:

Today Bradford offers several industries including engineering, chemicals and ICT The government has also found new uses for the old factories including renovating

them into galleries, museums and craft centres – this has helped grow the tourism industry

Brownfield sites have been redeveloped into flats, offices and shopping centres The flats are mainly small ones – this makes them appeal to a younger demographic

to suit the UKs changing demographic

Dhaka – A case study of rapid growth in an LIC


Location: Central Bangladesh, South Asia

Population: 12 million (2012)

Why are people moving to Dhaka?

400 000 people move to Dhaka each year Most look for a higher quality of life achieved through a higher wage A farmer is expected to earn about US$1 a day whereas in the city a factory worker

can earn about US$1.60 Bangladesh is prone to natural disasters such as flooding and unpredictable weather

this means that farmers cannot expect how much yield they will have – they could lose everything

Urban areas also offer better medical care and more sanitary conditions – this results in a lower death rate in addition to a lower infant mortality rate

Most people moving to Dhaka from the rural areas are young as the city offers better careers – this is a reason for a higher birth rate

Where in Dhaka are the migrants living?

Most of the migrants live in slums (bostis) outside the city in the urban fringe Squatting is illegal and as a result the government does not provide access to water

or electricity – people living in the areas must make their own dangerous electrical connections and buy water at high prices through illegal dealers

What are the migrants doing and why?

Two million people of the twelve million population are involved in the garment industry which is Dhaka’s main industry

80% of the migrants are involved in the ‘rickshaw economy’ which is an informal economy that is not regulated by the government

Most migrants in the rickshaw economy drive rickshaws hence the name – the main reason for this is because Dhaka does not have much in the way of public transport – as a result the government would not want to break down the rickshaw economy

However there is no record of transactions in this economy and this attracts a high potential for crime and other illegal trade

Also the rickshaw economy means that the government is not able to collect any tax from sales made within the economy

What problems has mass migration brought?

The lack of access to basic services is creating tension within the population The government cannot oversee transactions in the rickshaw economy and as a

result cannot collect tax on transactions – This means that there is little money for development of take place


The economy has become so large that people depend on the services provided by the economy – this means that it will take a long time to demolish the economy

Children are being forced to work as cheap labour – currently it is estimated that there are 50000 children working in the rickshaw economy

Population Change – Paper 3

China – A case study of population distribution

Location: East Asia

Population distribution:

The population is concentrated in the east The west is sparsely populated To the northwest there is a belt of high population densities

Reasons for population distribution:

The high relief in the west exceeds 3000 meters – with such high elevation it is difficult to build and develop infrastructure

The east offers low lying flat land which is easy to build on The east is also near the coast line which historically would be could for trading and

is also a source of food and water The east also offers high precipitation The west has very little water and precipitation making it vulnerable to drought and

unsuitable for activities such as farming

UK – A case study of population distribution

Location: West Europe

Population distribution:

Dominated by two areas of high population density South east of England and the other in the north west

Reason for population distribution:

Historically the areas of high population density used to be near coalfields Although coal is no longer mined in the UK the settlements that were created before

have continued to develop As coal was one of the main sources of energy it attracted many industries to locate

near the coalfields – this resulted in more people moving to these areas to get jobs


China’s one child policy – A case study of controlling overpopulation

Location: East Asia

Population: 1.3 billion (2013)

Background:

In 1970 the government introduced voluntary schemes to control birth as birth rate was high

In 1979 the one child policy was introduced This meant that couples were monitored by female health workers who were trusted

by the government Couples would receive a certificate and would have to pledge that they would not

have more children Women without children were persuaded to marry later Couples who had already had a child were urged to use contraception or undergo

sterilisation If couples had more than one child they would get fined and sacked from their jobs

Incentives:

Couples with just one child were entitled to benefits such as:

Cash bonuses Longer maternity leave Better childcare Preferential access to housing

Results:

Since 1996 the policy has been relaxed Birth rate fell from 34 per 1000 in 1970 to 13 per 1000 in 2008 The annual population growth rate fell from 2.4% to 0.6%

Singapore’s have three or more policy – A case study of controlling under population:


Location: South East Asia

Background:

From 1965 to 1985 the government policy was to control the rate of population growth as it was believed that the small island would soon become overpopulated

They eventually realised that they were running short of labour and it was having a negative impact on the economy

The government stopped penalising couples for having more than two children and offered incentives for having more than two

Incentives for having more children included:

Tax rebates for the third and subsequent children Cheap nurseries for working mothers Preferential access to the best schools Spacious apartments Counselling for pregnant women to discourage abortions or sterilisation Compensation for each child ($3000 for 1st and 2nd - $6000 for 3rd and subsequent)

Singapore also uses immigration as a way of increasing its population however non locals are still encouraged to stop at two. Also there is fear that the country will run out of ‘true Singaporeans’.

The UK – A case study of an ageing population:

Location: Western Europe

Background:

In 2008 there were 10 million people aged 65 and over By 2050 it is expected that there will be 16 million (or 25% of the UKs population)

people aged 65 and over 8 million of the 16 million will be aged 80 and over

Positive impacts:

The elderly have extra disposable income as they have fewer costs (e.g. mortgage, children etc.)

Growth in overseas spending (SKI – spending the kids’ inheritance)

Negative impacts:

Fewer people in the workforce – which means less tax on income


State pension needs to be raised Many elderly people now live in care homes which means people need to be hired to

work there

Economic Change – Paper 3

The primary sector – A case study on the decline of the UK primary sector

Today less than 2% of the UKs population is employed in the primary sector

Reasons for decline in general:

Social change – People found jobs in the secondary and tertiary sector to be better than those in the primary sector

Primary sector jobs were seen to have no career prospects and were low paid

Reasons for decline in agriculture:

It is cheaper to import food – less than 60% is now locally produced Agriculture is becoming mechanised – this requires fewer workers on the farms Farming has been made more commercial – more money is being invested in new

technologies

Reasons for decline in mining:

Resource depletion means that new deposits have to be found elsewhere It is cheaper to import coal from elsewhere The collapse of traditional industries such as iron and steel has resulted in a cut in

demand for coal

Reasons for decline in fishing:

There has been a depletion of fish stocks due to overfishing as a result of mechanisation

Tighter international controls limit the amount of fish that can be caught in order to conserve fish stocks

The secondary sector – A case study of decline in the UKs secondary sector

Fifty years ago the secondary sector produced 50% of the UKs wealth and employed a third of the workforce. Today it produces 11% of the wealth and employs less than 10% of the workforce.

The main factors encouraging manufacturing in MICs and LICs:

Cheaper land and labour with fewer regulation about working conditions and fewer concerns about environmental impacts

Fast, efficient and cheaper transport networks mean goods can be produced further from their markets

Better communication systems make for faster transfer of information The withdrawal of government support in the UK and the incentives provided by the

government


Transnational Corporations (TNC’s):

These companies operate on a global scale They are the cause of globalisation

Automation:

Modern production methods make use of automation which means that goods that are still produced in the UK make use of more machinery than people

China, the world’s workshop – A case study of secondary sector growth in an LIC

China produces:

Half of the world’s clothes Two thirds of the shoes One third of the mobile phones

Reasons for China’s industrial explosion

Access to natural resources Large labour force Few regulations to hinder industrial growth Investment from TNCs Growing global demand for cheap manufactured goods Political move from communism to capitalism

Benefits of industrialisation:

Rising incomes and a higher standard of living Improved working conditions Exports exceeding imports More influence in global affairs

Costs of industrialisation:

Damage to environment caused by the exploitation of natural resources Increased pollution and congestion Depletion of raw materials Massive rural depopulation

Toyota, Burnaston factory – A case study of secondary sector reappearing in the UK


Background:

Toyota is a Japanese car manufacturer It is currently the world’s 2nd largest car manufacturer

Why did Toyota locate in the EU?

The EU is the largest car market in the world Having a factory within the EU saves on shipping costs which means more

competitive prices Car manufacturers that import cars into the EU are subject to quotas – this way

Toyota is not limited to the quotas

Why did Toyota locate in the UK?

Toyota located in the UK as several incentives were offered by the government – and the UK was more compliant than other EU governments

There are no language barriers as English is spoken in the UK Workers in the UK are able to work longer hours for less pay than workers in other

EU countries Toyota sold 2.5 million units in the UK in 2003

Why did Toyota locate in Burnaston?

They were offered a large flat site of 100 hectares which left space for expansion The site is located 8KM away from a city (Derby) – this means that workers do not

need to commute far There are good road networks in the area with the A38 and the M1 There is a large pool of unemployed workers – mainly due to the closure of other

nearby factories such as rolls royce The roads allowed good access to suppliers who are located nearby

Impacts on the local area:

Increased pollution and congestion Provides 100s of jobs with 2500 jobs in supporting industries Local car manufacturers may get undercut by cheaper prices Farmland lost

A Tourists World – Paper 3

Blackpool – A case study on resort development in the UK

Location: West coast of the UK

Time line of events:

Early 19th century – Sea bathing was thought to be a cure for illness which attracted wealthy tourists (stage: development)

1820 – Blackpool’s 11KM beach starts to attract more wealthy visitors (stage: development)

1846 – The railway reaches Blackpool – this provides middle class tourists with cheap travel (stage: involvement)

1870 – Pier opens providing an alternate method of access (stage: involvement) 1875 – Changes in the law gives workers annual holidays (stage: development) 1894-1896 – Blackpool tower and Blackpool pleasure beach open as human

attractions (stage: development) 1918-1939 – Workers are given paid leave – this means that disposable income is

increased and more tourists are going to Blackpool (stage: consolidation) 1960 – Package holidays and cheap air transport become available – this encourages

more people to travel overseas and the UK witnessed a drop in domestic tourism (stage: decline)

1970 – Prices are lowered and a lower class of tourist are attracted – the attractions also start to become rundown (stage: stagnation)

1990 – Blackpool starts to gain a reputation for drunkenness – families are repelled from Blackpool (stage: stagnation)

2003 – 300 million pounds is invested in the development of casinos, conference centres and the renovation of hotels (stage: rejuvenation)


Benidorm – A case study of resort development in the EU

Location: East coast of Spain

Timeline of events:

1954 – Benidorm’s main industry was fishing, however this industry was in decline – at the time the mayor had a vision to revive the town and attract tourist as the town offered sea, sun and sand (stage: exploration)

1960 – New hotels, bars and restaurants are built – the boom in tourism is helped by cheap package holidays and good transport networks (stage: involvement)

1970s – Infrastructure is improved and the airport is redeveloped which allows better access (stage: development)

1980s – Cheap accommodation is offered due to high competition (stage: consolidation)

Late 1980s – Other tourist destinations are opening up and transport is becoming cheaper which means tourists can travel further for less – furthermore Benidorm is running out of space to develop (stage: stagnation)


Khumbu Region, Nepal – A case study of the impacts of tourism

Positive NegativeSocial Impacts Tourists bring in western

foods so diets are improved.Schools have been rebuilt using money earned from tourism.Electricity is now supplied to the area through a mini-hydro scheme which is financed by tourism.

Families are being broken up as men are living away from homes for long periods of time.Many porters and guides suffer injuries from carrying heavy loads.Traditional garments are no longer made as foreigners have brought in new styles.Many teenagers are dropping out of education early in order to take up jobs in tourism.

Economic Impacts Sherpa wages are good and young men earn enough money to rebuild and improve their homes.Some of the more enterprising men have set up their own businesses in the tourism industry.

There is not enough male labour left to work the farms which means women must take over.Basic food prices are being driven up by tourists.

Environmental Impacts The presence of tourists helps to ensure there is minimal damage to scenic areas.

Fuel wood is used by the tourists for cooking and heating so forests are being cleared.Tourists leave litter which pollutes rivers.


Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad – A case study of an eco-tourism resort

Location: North Trinidad, West Indies

Background:

Built in 1967 Started by a non-profit trust Built in a former mixed plantation of 78 hectares The idea of the centre is that the revenue earned from guest accommodation would

be used to fund the conservation and education work of the trust, as well as to purchase adjacent areas of rainforest

The 24 chalets allow for 2000 visitors a year

The aims of the centre are to:

Allow the cleared areas of the plantation to revert to rainforest Conserve the valley for the protection of wildlife and for the enjoyment of locals Promote public awareness of the value of the rainforest Provide accommodation for visitors

Sustainable features that make the centre an ecotourism resort:

The 50 employees are from the local area Staff members have numerous benefits such as training and interest free loans for

construction or renovation of homes On site recycling of refuse and waste water reduces impact of centre Most of the food served is either grown locally or purchased from local producers

thus expanding the local economy Only 10% of the land is accessible through designated trails, the remainder is left

undisturbed

Future plans:

There are plans to expand the centres capacity to 48 chalets However there are fears that this would commercialise the centre and make it less of

an ecotourism resort

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