Overview of Human Geography Topics for Paper Two

Key Topics Covered

• Urban Issues
• Changing Economic World
• Resource Management

Urban Issues and Challenges

• Urbanization
  • More people moving into towns and cities.
  • 50% of the global population lives in urban areas (2007 UN report).
  • Main causes:
    • Rural to Urban Migration
      • Push factors: natural disasters, lack of jobs.
      • Pull factors: more jobs, better quality of life.
    • Natural Increase
      • High birth rate vs. low death rate.
      • Causes: lack of contraception, younger population.
• Types of Cities
  • Mega City: Urban area with 10 million people.
  • Majority in NEEs and LICs.
• Key Terms
  • Integrated Transport System, Brownfield Sites, Greenbelt Land, Regeneration.
• Sustainable Urban Living
  • Water and energy conservation, waste recycling, urban greening.
• Case Study: Tempo Housing in Lagos
  • Pros: affordable (25% cheaper), fast construction, job creation.
  • Cons: cost, sense of community loss, heat management issues.
• Traffic and Urban Areas
  • Problems: air pollution, economic losses, social risks.
  • Solutions: road widening, congestion charge.
  • Case Study: Curitiba and transport system.
• Urban Change in Major UK City: London
  • Importance: trade, education, economy.
  • Opportunities vs. Challenges: Gentrification, Crossrail, urban greening.
  • Case Study: London Docklands regeneration.

Changing Economic World

• Understanding Development
  • Improving living standards through resources.
  • Economic, social, environmental.
• Groupings of Countries
  • LICs, NEEs, HICs.
• Measuring Development
  • Economic Indicators: GDP, employment type.
  • Social Indicators: literacy, life expectancy.
  • Mixed Indicators: HDI (Human Development Index).
• Demographic Transition Model
  • Five stages of development with examples.
• Uneven Development Causes
  • Physical: resources, climate, hazards.
  • Human: aid, trade, politics.
• Consequences of Uneven Development
  • Wealth, healthcare, migration.
• Reducing the Development Gap
  • Microfinance, aid, FDI, debt relief, fair trade, technology.
  • Case Study: Tourism in Tunisia.
• Case Study: Nigeria's Economic Development
  • TNCs Role: Shell Oil, pros and cons.
  • Aid and Debt Relief: corruption issues.

Resource Management

• Basic Human Needs
  • Food, water, energy.
  • Global demand vs. supply.
• Food in the UK
  • Agribusiness and its effects.
• Energy in the UK
  • Changing energy mix, reliance on imports.
• Water in the UK
  • Water stress, transfer schemes.
• Water Security and Insecurity
  • Human and physical influences.
  • Impacts: food production, industrial output.
• Increasing Water Supply
  • Diversion, reservoirs, transfer, desalination.
• Sustainable Water Supply
  • Conservation, management, recycling.
• **Case Studies
  • South North Water Transfer Project (China): pros and cons.
  • Kenyan Sand Dams: sustainable water supply.

Exam Preparation Tips

• Evaluate points with pros and cons.
• Focus on sustainability in solutions.
• Be prepared to discuss major points in nine-marker questions.