AP Human Geography Flashcards: Urban Sustainability
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
What is a primary economic criticism of sustainable urban design initiatives?
A major criticism is that these initiatives can lead to increased housing costs, making neighborhoods less affordable for existing or lower-income residents.
Card 1 of 10
All Flashcards (10)
What is a primary economic criticism of sustainable urban design initiatives?
A major criticism is that these initiatives can lead to increased housing costs, making neighborhoods less affordable for existing or lower-income residents.
Besides economic concerns, what is a potential cultural criticism of some urban design initiatives?
A significant criticism is the potential loss of a place's historical or unique character due to new construction and redevelopment.
What is the relationship between walkability and transportation-oriented development?
Transportation-oriented development is a practice that encourages walkability by concentrating housing, shopping, and jobs around public transit hubs.
What are four sustainable design initiatives or zoning practices used in urban planning?
Four such practices include mixed land use, promoting walkability, implementing transportation-oriented development, and enacting smart-growth policies.
What is a greenbelt in the context of urban planning?
A greenbelt is a zoning practice and smart-growth policy that creates a boundary of open land around a city where development is restricted to prevent sprawl.
What is New Urbanism?
New Urbanism is a smart-growth policy that promotes walkable neighborhoods, mixed land use, and transportation-oriented development to create more sustainable and livable communities.
What is the goal of mixed land use in urban design?
Mixed land use is a sustainable design initiative that combines different types of zoning, such as residential and commercial, in the same area to promote walkability and reduce reliance on cars.
How can smart-growth policies potentially lead to de facto segregation?
By increasing housing costs in desirable, redeveloped areas, smart-growth policies can inadvertently price out lower-income residents, leading to economic and racial segregation.
Identify three examples of smart-growth policies in urban planning.
Three examples of smart-growth policies are New Urbanism, the creation of greenbelts, and the implementation of slow-growth cities.
According to proponents, what are two key benefits of sustainable urban design?
Praise for these initiatives includes the reduction of urban sprawl and the improvement of walkability and transportation options for residents.