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| 08.02.2007 | ||
At the close of the last century, majority of the people of the world live in the rural settlements. However, just within the first decade of the 21st century, the overwhelming majority of men, women and children are now living in urban settlements of the various countries of the world.Actually, this is driven by demographic change, population transfer, rapid urban growth especially in the developing countries, globalization and liberalization of the world economy as well as pronounced economic and social change going on within different countries of the world. Undoubtedly, the face of the world has now been transformed, global urban civilization now impacts heavily on socio-economic growth and development patterns of various countries.
Megacities are now emerging with its attendant challenges. Obviously, the emergence megacities has brought along with it problems of environmental degradation in form of air, water, land and noise pollutions, soil erosion, flood, solid waste heaps, traffic congestion and high grade crime and violence.
Yet, with all these challenges of megacities, it is still expected that the urban centers must provide security and economic growth opportunities for the inhabitants now and in the future. In essence, the cities and megacities must become safe, healthy, sustainable, productive and affordable for the people. Thus, sustainable urban city planning is one of the biggest challenges of this generation.
The cities and megacities can only be liveable for the inhabitants when public policies are tailored towards the improvement of the living standard and working conditions of the people and their communities. Economic and employment opportunities must be greatly expanded to accommodate the poor and the deprived. Private sector must also be given leverage in their business conduct.
Good governance must equally be given priority especially in the developing countries and essentially sustainable environmental management strategy must be employed to address issues of environmental degradation.
In addressing the challenges confronting urban centers especially the megacities, attention must be paid to environmental management and sustainable development. This is due to the simple reason that environmental threats and its attendant socio-economic predicaments now constitute great impediments to further economic growth and well being of mankind. In the developed countries to a greater extent, there is a growing awareness of the environmental effects of the harmful and wasteful use of resources in their development process and the issues are been addressed pragmatically.
However, the situation in the developing countries is quite pathetic. Aside from the low level of awareness of environmental effects of wasteful use of resources, conditions such as growing severe poverty and debt burden have further affected the spirited efforts of individuals, institutions and governments in providing for the needs of the people. The environmental implications of these predicaments are compounded by growing human populations and expanding economic activities which are consequently putting an increasing pressure on environmental resources.
From the foregoing explanations, I will like to advocate Mapping as a key strategy that will effectively address some of the challenges of environmental degradation. Mapping is imperative for environmental monitoring in order to be able to generate an up-to-date data and information about the environment and its resources and how they are put to use by man. This is the medium for articulating environmental management programs and policies but it requires integrated mapping or it success. In the developing countries especially in Africa, such up-to-date data and information are often absent because most of the available maps are outdated. However, in order to adequately monitor and manage how resources are put to use by man, it is necessary and expedient to provide an up-to-date data and information on the present distribution and usage of such resources. This implies that continuous mapping and updating of maps must be carried out regularly.
Most importantly, this is central to the attainment of sustainable development, that is, development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
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Development of Megacities via rural-urban migration would bring increased diversity to the cosmopolitan cities of the world. This would serve as an opportunity and threat as well.
It will be a great opportunity for firms as they will be better able to access large population in the organized sector of economy. They will be able to use media channels to the best advantage esp. in developing nations where rural areas are completely devoid of basic utilities, and 70% - 80% of the national poulation resides there. Now in cities, considering even the greater need for improvement of Human Development Index, these people will have access to utilities and media channels.
Alternatively, the threat lies in the differences and divide that such conglomeration would bring to these cities, and thus the resulting conflicts that might hamper the overall growth of the markets and economies.
Afsheen Bashir Ali Gangji
The contrast you emphasize between developed vs developing countries in your essay is certainly interesting, and this is something that has come up many times throughout this forum up until now. Whereas cities in the developed world are having debates on how to make the best use of the resources that are at their disposal, cities in the developing world are struggling just to get basic access to those same resources that are taken for granted in North America or Europe. You were talking about efficient mapping as a strategy to address environmental issues in developing countries; to that, I would add decentralized governance of natural resources, which incidentally could be further developed by means of more efficient mapping in areas where this is lacking. Giving the final word to the people over how their local resources are managed will certainly have a positive environmental and social impact on a regional scale, but if this is applied nation-wide, then the positive sustainable changes you were talking about will really be tangible on a broader level.
Dominique Bernard
It is indeed true that there has been no mapping of usage of environmental resources. As the clock of globalization and urbanization is ticking, and ticking fast, there is that much more pressure on environment in developing and developed world alike. Apart from ofcourse mapping the usage of resources, every citizen in this world should be educated about the current stress that environment is facing and the attention that it deserves.
If we look at some of the cities in the developing world, they are bursting at their seams. Apart from ofcourse the stress on enevironmental resources, the cities are growing in a very unplanned manner. Poplulation is increasing but without concurrent infrastructural support. Transportation is crumbling, drainage systems are improper, air is polluted, water is scarce and real estates prices are skyrcoketing making the cities unaffordable for labour class. These are serious issues crippling the sustainable growth of cities. Sooner these issues are addressed the better it is for the world.
Sameer Sameer
I strongly agree with Niyi. There is a need for developing cities around the world to have a cohesive and structured plan as to how they utilize their resources in ensuring that all benefit.
The urban cities of Africa share a common trait in that the informal and formal sectors of society appear to exist independently of one another, yet are intricately inter-twinned. I often wonder if the modern cities of Africa are cultural structures or a legacy handed down by colonial rule?
There is certainly a need for a decentralization of power in the city structure of the developing world and a greater role of accountability, but one wonders if that would only create a vacuum of equally inept planning as the onus of responsibility would be taken away from local government.
Conversely, power handed down to the lowest common denominator would allow greater autonomy for the individual. One could advocate for property rights of the poorer individuals in society as Hernando De Soto proposed.
This would allow the regulation of residential housing and also the equal dispensation of resources, as shanty towns are often built on disputed land and generate non-taxable revenue that the local municipalities urgently need for the day to day running of their respective cities.
In a “mapped” and strategically planned city and with greater economic dispersion of resources one would wish to envision a future in which refuse sites would not be found next to residential housing.
To conclude, the development of developing cities around the world requires the involvement of all concerned from Government to Private Business, NGO’s and concerned individuals while providing the basic amenities and informing the inhabitants of the cities the pressing need for environmental conservation and awareness.
Kapiji Mulemba