makingit_18_pp2-3_intro_print 11/05/2015 12:37 Page 3
Photo: www.istock.com / Massimo Colombo
Editorial
The conventional view holds that villages and towns first formed after the Neolithic revolution, some 12,000 years ago. If so, then we must acknowledge that urban settlements have not only endured but have spread and grown over thousands of years because their advantages have far outweighed the disadvantages, so far, at least. Today, with half of the population of the world living in cities and the rate of urbanization ever-increasing, cities occupy a special position in the global development agenda. Cities can provide significant socio-economic benefits. By concentrating people, investment and resources, cities heighten possibilities for economic development, innovation and social interaction. As the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, said, “The road to sustainability runs through the world’s towns and cities. By building sustainable towns and cities, you will build global sustainability.” Yet, rapid urbanization poses some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. For cities in developing countries, the main challenge is how to provide adequate public services and job opportunities to residents, including marginalized populations. In high-income countries, cities that already provide basic public services now have to pay particular attention to issues such as energy-efficiency, water and waste management, and smart governance. Cities all over the world face the urgent requirement that they transition to ways of living and of working that no longer pollute the air and that result in a sharp reduction in the production of greenhouse gases. Many cities will also experience the impacts of climate change which are likely to compound the pressure on the use of natural resources and the environment already linked to rapid urbanization. An expanding population with higher expectations will require innovative solutions to the questions of how industry can be greened, public infrastructure improved, and social services made available to all. Clearly, cities face a range of challenges to which they will respond with diverse priorities, objectives and solutions. There is no ‘one-size fits all’ approach towards urban sustainability, but all our urban areas must re-invent themselves and quickly adapt.
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