How can cities become more sustainable for the future?
What makes a city sustainable; the challenges and opportunities for a city in an AC; and strategies for sustainable urban living, including transport, housing, energy, water and waste, that improve quality of life while reducing environmental impact.
A focused answer to OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Urban Futures on sustainable cities, covering what makes a city sustainable, the challenges and opportunities for a city in an AC, and strategies for sustainable urban living.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
This is OCR GCSE Geography B (J384) Component 2, People and Society, the forward-looking enquiry of Urban Futures: "How can cities become more sustainable for the future?" OCR expects you to explain what makes a city sustainable, discuss the challenges and opportunities for a city in an AC (Advanced Country), and explain strategies for sustainable urban living across transport, housing, energy, water, waste and green space that improve quality of life while reducing environmental impact.
What makes a city sustainable
Challenges and opportunities for a city in an AC
Cities in ACs are already wealthy and highly urbanised, which shapes both their problems and their options.
- Challenges. Traffic congestion and air pollution from cars, large volumes of waste, inequality between richer and poorer districts, urban sprawl onto the countryside, and the need to regenerate older industrial areas.
- Opportunities. Unlike many LIDC cities, AC cities have the money, technology and stable government to invest in solutions, plan ahead and enforce regulations, so they can make real progress towards sustainability.
Strategies for sustainable urban living
OCR rewards a range of strategies across different sectors. Use several.
Each strategy should be linked to a benefit: better public transport reduces pollution and improves access; brownfield housing protects the countryside; recycling cuts waste. The most convincing answers show how several strategies work together.
Try this
Q1. Define what is meant by a sustainable city. [2 marks]
- Cue. A city that meets its residents' needs now without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs, balancing social, economic and environmental needs.
Q2. Explain how recycling and waste schemes make a city more sustainable. [4 marks]
- Cue. They reduce the waste sent to landfill, recover materials and energy, and cut pollution, lowering the city's environmental impact.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of OCR exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
OCR 20184 marksExplain how improving public transport can make a city more sustainable. (Component 2)Show worked answer →
A 4-mark "Explain" question assessing AO1 and AO2. Markers reward a developed link to sustainability.
Award credit for: good, affordable public transport (buses, trams, metros, cycle lanes) encourages people to leave their cars at home, which reduces the number of cars on the road. This cuts traffic congestion and lowers air pollution and carbon emissions, improving health and the environment. It also makes the city more accessible for people without cars, improving their quality of life and access to jobs. Top answers link the transport improvement to a clear environmental or social benefit, not just "it is better".
OCR 20216 marksAssess how successful strategies have been at making a city in an AC more sustainable. (Component 2)Show worked answer →
A 6-mark "Assess" question marked by levels of response, assessing AO1, AO2 and AO3, with a judgement.
Strong answers explain a range of strategies for an AC city (such as London or another studied example): integrated public transport and congestion charging to cut car use, energy-efficient and affordable housing, recycling and waste-to-energy schemes, green spaces and brownfield regeneration, and renewable energy. They assess success: these reduce pollution, emissions and waste and improve quality of life, but they can be expensive, may not benefit everyone equally, and some problems (congestion, air quality) persist. A good judgement weighs the gains against the costs and remaining problems, concluding that AC cities have made real progress but are not yet fully sustainable. Markers reward named strategies and a balanced judgement.
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Sources & how we know this
- OCR GCSE (9-1) Geography B (J384) specification — OCR (2016)