The 21st century is undoubtedly
the 'city millennium', with more than half of the world's six billion people
living in cities today, and two billion projected new residents in cities of
the developing world over the next 25 years. This process, though stimulated by
economic development, has also resulted in the increased urbanisation of
poverty, to which more than one billion urban residents are currently subjected[1]. Whilst it is now well recognized that cities
make a vital contribution to national (and global) social and economic
development, in that they:
- are important engines of economic and social
advancement;
- absorb two-thirds of the population growth in
developing countries;
- offer economies of scale in the provision of
jobs, housing and services; and
- generate over half the Gross National Product
(even in countries where most people are engaged in agriculture);
Huge challenges lie ahead. On
the one hand, most city contributions to development are obstructed by
environmental degradation which threaten the sustainability of development
initiatives; so special efforts continue to be necessary to promote the more
balanced use of natural resources to sustain growth and development. At the
same time, as the poor and disadvantaged people, especially women and children
are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation, greater efforts
are necessary to promote more equitable access to services and employment
opportunities.
Concurrently, it is now well
recognized that sustainability cannot depend upon external intervention but
must rely upon local technical, financial and managerial resources, in order to
resolve urban environment-development and equity problems; requiring increased
international support to address the major bottlenecks in local and national
environmental governance and urban management capabilities, to strengthen the
mobilisation and utilisation of those local resources.
[1] The United Nations Millennium Declaration, 17th Session,
New York,
20-22 September 2000.
