GCSE Geography: Urban Issues and Challenges Guide

Global urbanisation trends

Urbanisation — the growth in the proportion of people living in cities — is happening fastest in newly emerging economies (NEEs), driven by rural-to-urban migration and natural population increase within cities.

Causes of urban growth

Push factors (like poor job prospects or natural disasters in rural areas) and pull factors (like better jobs, education and healthcare in cities) both drive migration to urban areas.

Challenges of rapid growth

Rapid urban growth in NEEs can outpace infrastructure, leading to challenges such as squatter settlements, traffic congestion, and pressure on water, energy and waste services.

Urban planning and sustainability

Cities can manage these challenges through strategies like improving infrastructure, self-help schemes for squatter settlements, and sustainable urban planning that reduces traffic and pollution while improving quality of life.

Common mistakes

• Confusing push factors (reasons to leave) and pull factors (reasons to move to a city).
• Assuming all urban challenges are the same in high-income and lower-income countries.
• Describing a strategy without explaining how it addresses a specific challenge.