Urbanization

1. Urbanization 10 CHAPTER

2. Talk About ItShould governments be able to limit development on privately owned land if it means protecting the environment? Why or why not? Growing Pains in Portland, Oregon • Senate Bill 100 sets guidelines for land use in Oregon, restricting development to urban areas and leaving open areas largely untouched. • In recent years, further measures have challenged Senate Bill 100, arguing that it restricts landowners from increasing the value of their property through development.

3. Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization For the first time in history, there are now more urban residents than rural residents.

4. Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization Land Cover and Land Use • Land cover: Vegetation and structures that cover land. • Land use: Human activities that occur on land • Humans change land cover, especially in urban areas. These changes have environmental and economic effects.

5. Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization Urban and Rural Areas • Rural: Any other type of land use or land cover (includes forests, cropland, etc.) • Urban: Land mostly covered with buildings and roads (includes suburbs)

6. Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization Urbanization • Occurs when people move from rural areas to cities • Cities are not new, but the enormous size of today’s cities is. More than 20 cities have at least 10 million residents.

7. Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization The Rise of Cities • Factors that contribute to the rise of urbanization include population growth and industrialization. • Most cities are located near a transportation route such as a large body of water, railroad, or highway. Chicago’s location on Lake Michigan helped it grow into a large and prosperous city. Did You Know?Since 1950, the world’s urban population has more than quadrupled. According to U.N. projections, it will double again by 2050.

8. Environmental Costs of Urbanization Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization • Pollution: Increased waste, industrial byproducts, noise pollution, light pollution • Heat islands: Cities, several degrees warmer than surrounding areas, affect local weather and trap pollutants. • Imported resources: Fossilfuels are burned to import food, water, fuel, and raw materials.

9. Lesson 10.1 Land Use and Urbanization Environmental Benefits of Urbanization • Efficiency: Less fuel and resources needed to distribute goods and services to residents • Universities and research centers: Urban areas tend to foster education and innovation. • Land Preservation: Dense urban centers leave room for agriculture, wilderness, biodiversity, and privacy.

10. Lesson 10.2 Sprawl In 1950, 65% of the U.S. population lived in urban (including suburban) areas, while 35% lived rurally. In 2010, 89% was urban and only 11% rural. Los Angeles, CA, is one the most sprawling U.S. cities.

11. Lesson 10.2 Sprawl What Is Sprawl? • The spread of low-density urban or suburban development outward from a dense urban core • Often, growth of suburban areas outpaces population growth because suburbs allow more space per person than cities. Las Vegas, NevadaLeft: 1972;Right: 2002

12. Lesson 10.2 Sprawl Primary Contributors to Sprawl • Population growth • Increased per capita land consumption • On average, these two factors are equally important, but one may be more important than another in a specific city.

13. Lesson 10.2 Sprawl Patterns of Sprawl • Uncentered commercial strip development • Low-density single-use residential development • Scattered, or leapfrog, development • Sparse street network

14. Lesson 10.2 Sprawl Impacts of Sprawl • Transportation: Little to no public transportation • Pollution: Increased driving leads to pollution. • Public health: May promote inactivity, and by extension obesity and high blood pressure • Land Use: Less land left as open space, forests, and farms • Economics: Wealth tending to concentrate in suburbs, leaving urban areas poor Did You Know?Every year, more than 1 million hectares (2.5 million acres) of rural land are converted to urban land in the United States.

15. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities More than 600 “new urbanist” communities are planned or in construction across North America.

16. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities City Planning and Zoning • City planners attempt to design cities that both work well and look and feel appealing. • Zoning: Classification of land areas for different types of development and land use • An area can be mixed use or single use. • Involves restrictions on the use of private land

17. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs) • A line drawn around a city to separate urban areas from rural areas, with limited permission for development • Advantages: Saves 20% in infrastructure costs compared with sprawl; decreases per capita land use; promotes economic development within the city • Disadvantages: Does not completely stop sprawl; limits rights of private landowners

18. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities Smart Growth • Focuses on economic and environmental approaches to avoiding sprawl • Builds “up,” not “out” • Maintains open spaces by redeveloping existing urban areas, waterfronts, and industrial sites

19. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities “New Urbanism” • Seeks to design neighborhoods that minimize the need to drive • Requires good public transportation systems • Sometimes impossible due to zoning restrictions Did You Know?A 2004 study found that residents of sprawling areas were heavier on average for their height, and had increased instances of high blood pressure.

20. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities Transportation Options • Public transportation a key factor in the quality of urban life • Buses, subways, trains more efficient, less polluting than cars • Cities encourage mass transit with fuel taxes, vehicle taxes, rewarding carpoolers, and encouraging bicycle and bus use. Did You Know?Paris, France removed 200,000 parking spaces to encourage the use of public transportation within the city.

21. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities Open Space • Provides greenery, beauty, freedom of movement, recreation opportunities • Includes parks, playgrounds, community gardens, greenways • Regulates climate, produces oxygen, filters air and water, provides habitat Did You Know?More than 24,000 km of abandoned public rail line in the U.S. have been converted to trails for walking, jogging, and biking.

22. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities Green Building Design • The goals of a green building are to save energy and resources without sacrificing people’s comfort. • Ashland High School near Boston, Massachusetts is a sophisticated green building that saves the school system more than $75,000 a year in energy costs.

23. Lesson 10.3 Sustainable Cities Urban Sustainability Successes • Curitiba, Brazil • Efficient bus network • Recycling and environmental education provided • New York City • Plan underway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public transit, plant trees, clean up polluted sites, and improve open space access The tube at this Curitiba bus stop handles fare collection for passengers boarding or exiting.