Examine the contribution eco city design could make to the management of urban challenges in the future.

Examine ways in which deindustrialization has helped bring positive changes to some urban areas and communities.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

An eco city is a city built from the principles of living within environmental means. Eco cities may be new or retro-fitted older settlements. Credit design/architectural features and management strategies eg water harvesting, solar panels.

Urban challenges may already be present and candidates may not necessarily distinguish between present day and possible future challenges.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Challenges including: reducing the urban ecological footprint; stresses from increasing traffic congestion; housing shortages.
• Stresses due to escalating climatic risks at the local and global scale, such as air pollution, urban heat islands, and global warming.
• Urban resource shortages, including water.
• Future possibilities for the management of urban systems including: eco city design (and also resilient city design and smart city design).
• Specific strategies to manage the urban ecological footprint, including: the elimination of carbon waste (zero-carbon city), production of energy through renewable resources, resource conservation.
• Restoring environmentally damaged areas whilst still stimulating economic growth and tackling urban poverty.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the statement that examines possible limitations of eco city design and the contribution that can realistically be made (recognising high costs and existing infrastructures, and political commitment). Another approach might be to examine how far strategies can be delivered in different places, ie established cities and megacities, compared with newly planned cities.

For 5–6 marks, expect some outlining of eco city design and/or urban challenges. The response is partial, narrow or lacks supporting evidence.

For 7–8 marks, expect a well-structured account which includes:

• either a well-evidenced explanation of eco city design(s) and the management of (future) urban challenges
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspective.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

There are positive economic, social and environmental consequences of deindustrialization for urban areas, although not all areas/places and community/people may benefit equally. These effects may be considered in different geographical contexts and on varying time scales.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• The subsequent growth of tertiary and quaternary industries after the decline of manufacturing industry.
• Re-investment in deprived areas, especially by service industries; improvements in transport, housing and infrastructure.
• Redevelopment of brownfield sites.
• Decreasing unemployment, especially amongst unskilled and low-paid workers (provided new opportunities and training appear).
• In-migration into regenerated urban areas.
• Environmental improvements / restoration.
• Economic benefits for areas where industrial work has relocated.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the statement in a way that examines the different positive changes linked with economic, social and environmental aspects of the deindustrialization process. Another approach might be to examine varying benefits for different places affected by the process (possibly including urban areas where factories have relocated). Another approach might be to examine the time scale of the changes. Another approach might be to examine the power of different stakeholders to deliver positive change.

For 5–6 marks, expect some outlining of some positive changes linked with deindustrialization. The response is partial, narrow or lacks supporting evidence.

For 7–8 marks, expect a well-structured account which includes:

• either a well-evidenced explanation of positive changes for urban areas and their communities resulting from deindustrialization
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and/or perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits. 

A popular question. Most candidates understood the concept of eco cities and were able to discuss some aspects of eco city design. Many had well-chosen examples (e.g. Masdar, BedZED, Songdo, Eko Atlantic) and were able to give specific details of how these are designed to meet future urban challenges. Few, however, were able to offer an evaluation of their limitations and/or effectiveness. Examples of  true eco cities (as defined in the syllabus) were less frequent than retrofit sustainable approaches. Curitiba and Singapore were often successfully used as examples. Many candidates attempted  to  use certain  aspects of New York, Chicago, London and other mega cities and claimed that this one design aspect made them  an eco city.

This was the least popular question, and many did not understand the term deindustrialization. Others only discussed the reasons for and the negative impacts of deindustrialization on a city, for example, Detroit. Good answers described good case studies and were able to explain positive economic, social and environmental impacts to urban areas and communities.