For Mumbai, assess how rapid population growth has affected attempts to make it more sustainable (8). 8/8 + 4/4
Developing better public transport is the most significant attempt to make Mumbai more sustainable as population growth rises. A population rise has led to more cars on the road, emitting more harmful gases, such as SO₂ and CO₂. In just one year, the number of vehicles in Mumbai has increased by 67 percent. Mumbai has recently invested in a nearly completed metro system alongside the Mumbai Monorail, aiming to discourage people from driving and using taxis, thereby reducing air pollution. The development of sustainable public transport is the most significant outcome of rapid population growth because most of Mumbai can use it (as tickets are cheap) and will prevent more irreversible deaths and air pollution levels.
By 2025, Mumbai will have 46.8 MLD of treated wastewater. It is now also mandatory for all new constructions to harvest rainwater. The increase in water resources will provide enough water for the population to use and hopefully live comfortably while enabling the industry to progress and manufacture more quickly. However, this is less significant than improved sustainable transport because of insufficient, good-quality infrastructure. The increase in water resources will provide enough water for the population to use and live comfortably while enabling the industry to progress and manufacture more quickly. Development takes a long time to occur in unsanitary areas like Dharavi.
The last significant attempt to make Mumbai more sustainable is through the disposal of garbage. As the population grows and consumerism increases, so does the amount of waste generated. Due to a lack of space to dump the waste, it accumulates across the city, leading to increased air pollution, foul smells, and less space for people to live. The transformation of the Gorai Garbage Site into a 19-hectare park increased Mumbai's green space, improving the city's air quality. However, the park's methane capture technology generates sustainable power from the decaying waste beneath it.
However, this is the least significant attempt, as there is no longer much space to dispose of waste, meaning it ends up in water bodies. This contaminates water resources that are vital for every person staying in Mumbai.
Overall, Mumbai's most significant attempt to become more sustainable as its population grew was to improve public transport, which is accessible and beneficial to everyone's health. However, in the future, we will see the rise of electric cars in Mumbai, which will also help improve human health and lower air pollution levels further.
Assess whether economic development always leads to urban growth in Mumbai (8). 8/8 + 4/4
Migration to Mumbai is the most significant economic development and urban growth factor. Globalisation has meant that foreign companies, such as Microsoft, have begun to invest in Mumbai's finance and IT sectors, creating high-paying jobs. This significantly contributes to Mumbai's economic status and brings more international migrants. Significant migration from rural areas to Mumbai has resulted from the surge in low-skill jobs in the service sector and the increased number of street vendors, domestic helpers, and chauffeurs. The employment opportunities in Mumbai encourage people to leave their villages, and as a result, Mumbai's informal economy has grown to 90%, greatly benefiting the economy. This rise in population, but of Mumbaians being employed in this sector, contributing to Mumbai's economy in just the past 36 years, has resulted in urban growth because the extra 8,700 people who have moved to Mumbai to settle more permanently and workplaces need to be built in just the extra 36 years. Rapid population growth has led to areas such as Navi Mumbai forming, allowing people to easily travel to the CBD from the city's outskirts. The increase in population is the primary driver of urban growth, as it eliminates the need for city expansion by reducing the number of buildings required.
The next most significant factor contributing to economic development and urban growth in Mumbai is the improvement of transport links. Mumbai's connectivity has increased due to the new sea link road, the nearly finished metro system, and the existing railways, enabling people to commute to work in the CBD or suburbs from more distant areas, such as Thane. Trade and new transport, driving Mumbai's economic growth, have enabled the government to invest in these new transport links, thereby promoting urban growth in areas like Thane and the Raigad district, making it easier to find a place to live. However, this is not as significant as migration, as most urban growth involves the metro system, which takes a long time to set up and disrupts other transport links during construction, thereby worsening Mumbai's already poor connectivity.
Mumbai's physical geography has meant that, despite rapid economic development, the city has not been able to grow as much. Mumbai originally grew at the southern end of an island surrounded by the Arabian Sea, measuring 6 km from increasing any further south; the south is where the old city and the ports are. However, this is not as significant as economic development, which causes urban growth because the city can still expand northwards. As a result, we are witnessing a gradual relocation of the CBD to the Bandra-Kurla Complex. The old CBD, which had many industrial uses, has started shifting to BKC due to its focus on the tertiary sector, which allows more urbanisation and growth near Mumbai's suburbs.
Overall, economic development always leads to urban growth, with migration into Mumbai being the most significant factor. Without more people, the city would not need to expand. Urban growth and future population growth in Mumbai may increase the average building height, particularly in areas like BKC.
Assess to what event globalisation has positively impacted the people in India regarding their quality of life. (12) 8/8 + 4/4
The most significant impact of globalisation—improving the quality of life for Indians—is India's improved transport system. India has constructed numerous ports, enabling ships to carry 70% of their foreign trade. India has also established 11 international airports to enhance trade with countries further away. India can reinvest the money from this trade to enhance services like education and healthcare, thereby improving the quality of life. Furthermore, India's road system has doubled in length since 1990 to over 6 million km. This has made it easier for people to travel both within the country and internationally, thanks to the expansion of international airports. Moreover, the increased expenditure of money and time, coupled with the lengthening of roads for driving, enhances the quality of life by eliminating the need to drive and reach a destination. The improved transport system is the most significant factor contributing to improving people's quality of life (QoL) in India. The Indian government can decide on the best investments to improve the country's QoL to the maximum extent possible with the money it receives from trade.
The following most significant impact of globalisation—improving QoL—is colonial linkages. India gained independence from the UK in 1947, so most of India's population speaks English. This helped India integrate into the global economy and helped Indians living in urban areas secure high-paying jobs with TNCs. This improves their QoL as they now have more money and, therefore, more disposable income to spend. However, this impact is less significant than improved transport, as it is not as widespread when improving QoL because several million people in India still do not speak English and live in rural areas, away from high-paying jobs in TNCs.
TNCs primarily create the service sector, which has the least significant impact on globalisation and improves QoL. India's software and IT sectors have created many high-paying jobs for Indians. Exports from this sector alone are worth around 100 billion USD each year. This implies that individuals working in this sector receive high salaries, which enhances their quality of life. However, this is the least significant factor, as without English, fewer TNCs with high-paying jobs speaking a large proportion of the Indian population would be attracted to urban areas of India, which would mean less money would be obtained, and fewer people would earn high salaries in the service sector. The money from this sector could also be reinvested into India to help improve services such as education and healthcare to further improve QoL.
Overall, the improved transport system is the most significant factor contributing to improving the quality of life in India. This is because the money obtained can be invested in improving QoL and helping ease travel distances for people in India. In the future, as large-scale Indian companies emerge and become TNCs due to globalization, more education will improve. This will create more high-paying jobs in India and other countries, thereby increasing India's global significance.
Assess the extent of India's regional significance. (12) 8/8 + 4/4
The most significant reason for India's limited regional significance is its tense relationship with Pakistan. Following the dissolution of the British Raj, India and Pakistan have been at war three times since 1947 due to religious differences. Furthermore, Bollywood films depicting war against Pakistan and the media instill a deep-seated disregard for Pakistan in the Indian population. This implies that the likelihood of the two bordering countries becoming allies in the near future is minimal, posing the greatest obstacle to India's regional significance.
The second-most significant factor contributing to India's limited regional significance is its ongoing conflict with China, another neighboring country. Due to its rapid economic and political influence across the region and the world, India perceives China as a threat and a major competitor. For example, China's One Belt Road initiative, while significant, pales in comparison to India's conflict with Pakistan. This is because India and China have not recently engaged in a war, and India also enjoys significant support from Japan, a powerful country, to curtail China's restrictions.
One reason people may believe India holds some regional significance is because recent economic growth in Asia, particularly in the vicinity of India, has facilitated India's global trade. India's location provides a large market to trade goods with other parts of Asia, increasing its regional significance and economic development. However, this economic growth has led to conflicts over water resources in the Himalayan Region, thereby eliminating some of its regional significance. This is primarily due to India's hydroelectric power, which extracts water from Pakistan's agricultural land. The primary reason for the diminishment of India's regional significance is the deterioration of India-Pakistan relations.
Overall, the primary factor impeding India's regional significance is its poor relationship with its neighbour, Pakistan. This is primarily due to ingrained religious differences and land disputes over Kashmir among the majority of the Indian population. Future conflicts between India and China due to increased competition and rapid economic growth could further harm India's regional significance, as the tense relationship is unlikely to resolve soon.
Assess the importance of primary and secondary impacts of a tropical cyclone in Haiti 8/8 + 4/4
The economic impact of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti was the most significant. Very little economic activity occurred for months after the hurricane. The destruction of numerous cocoa and coffee plantations prevented individuals from working, given that agriculture employs 2/3 of Haiti's population and accounts for 1/4 of its GDP. Additionally, 80% of the population lacked power, posing a significant obstacle to other efforts to address Haiti's economic devastation following Hurricane Matthew. This is a long-term issue, as the loss of 1/4 of Haiti's GDP necessitates a protracted economic recovery process that impacts the entire population. If Haiti's population is unable to find employment, it will lead to an increase in homelessness and starvation, resulting in more deaths in the future. This is a permanent and harsh consequence of economic instability.
Hurricane Matthew's most significant impact on Haiti was its high wind speeds, reaching 74 mph, which left vast numbers of people desperate for help and homeless. 1.4 million people needed humanitarian aid. This left 200,000 homes nearly completely damaged, leaving nearly 350,000 people homeless. It is challenging to help so many people and have long-term (secondary) impact, as it is tough to help so many people, and along with the fact that long-term (secondary) impact of it is with the fact that coastal areas are vulnerable to extensive crop damage in Haiti, homelessness led to extensive crop damage in Haiti, and homelessness and starvation can lead to more deaths in Haiti—an irreversible impact. However, this factor is less significant than Haiti's economic impact because people need humanitarian aid. Furthermore, aid agencies such as the UN can help Haiti's population. However, they are unable to restore Haiti's economy, which reduces the long-term impact on the social vulnerability of its people.
Hurricane Matthew's least significant impact on Haiti was the destruction of mudslides, other road systems, and bridges. Hurricane Matthew washed away many of Haiti's roads and bridges, and high wind speeds could potentially compromise the road system, leading to a severe lack of access. However, this is the least significant impact, as it is a short-term (primary) issue, and simple access would not cause more deaths or severely harm Haiti's population. Additionally, the rebuilding process would be less time-consuming than the restoration of Haiti's economy.
Overall, Hurricane Matthew's most significant impact on Haiti is its economic instability, which has a long-term effect on the entire population and has the potential to cause many more deaths. As tropical cyclones hit Haiti, the economy may deteriorate, further harming more people and creating a cycle of devastation.
Different countries at varying levels of development manage tectonic hazards differently. Assess this statement (8). 8/8 + 4/4
Countries at different levels of development manage tectonic hazards differently, primarily through the preparation and precautions taken. While New Zealand, a developed country, has instruments and data to monitor earthquakes, such as Geonet, and technology, such as seismographs, to help detect and predict earthquakes, Haiti, a developing country, lacks these tools. This means Haiti has no way of predicting tectonic hazards and earthquakes and, therefore, no way of warning its population to take safety measures. New Zealand's preparation and precaution techniques have proved useful, as there were no deaths in the 2010 earthquake with a 7.1 magnitude. However, in 2010, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 affected 357, with an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 affecting a country being the most significant factor in managing tectonic hazards because a lack of it leads to the most deaths (as the population is unable to prepare without warning). These deaths are irreversible, impact a significant number of people psychologically, and can significantly harm the economy by reducing the workforce needed for management.
The next significant difference is the long-term planning of countries after a tectonic hazard. After the 2010 earthquake, New Zealand paid USD 898 million in building claims to rebuild collapsed buildings and repair 100 km of damaged sewage and water pipes. New Zealand could return to regular economic activity before the earthquake despite suffering substantial economic losses. However, Haiti lacked the funds and support needed to improve its infrastructure and social situation, as the UN workers who had arrived withdrew their assistance due to several deaths. Six months after the earthquake, 98% of the rubble remained, and 20% of all jobs disappeared in Haiti. This meant Haiti became a disaster, and the country would be unable to recover for a prolonged period. However, long-term planning is less significant than the necessary preparations and precautions to manage tectonic hazards. This is because, unlike death, we can reverse the effects of aid and strategies; with the right investment, countries can prevent future struggles from tectonic hazards.
Short-term relief after a tectonic event is the least significant difference in managing tectonic hazards. After an earthquake struck New Zealand, they constructed the Canterbury Art Gallery—a facility that allowed them to coordinate and organise aid efforts during the 2010 earthquake. Since Haiti lacked such a facility, the aid they received, including that from the Dominican Republic, did not reach the most vulnerable individuals. However, short-term relief is the least significant difference. Haiti can apply for more aid and funding from organisations such as the UN to help restructure and perhaps build one tectonic hazard-proof building before another tectonic hazard strikes.
Developed countries like New Zealand manage tectonic hazards very differently than developing countries like Haiti. Precautions and preparation, long-term planning, and short-term relief demonstrate this. The most significant difference lies in the precautions and preparations implemented prior to a tectonic hazard, as these measures have the potential to cause permanent deaths. Future aid to developing countries like Haiti may increase, ensuring the safety of more people and averting the destruction of more infrastructure due to tectonic hazards.