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Dr. Shamshad Akhtar: Challenges and Opportunities in Moving towards Aspirational Urban Models
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Published time: 2017-01-11
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Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, United Nations’ Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNESCAP
By 2050 the population of our region’s cities will grow to more than 3 billion. China and India alone will add almost 700 million. The growth of our cities’ at present outstrips overall population growth. Sustainable growth of cities will be integral to achieving the 2030 Agenda. Significant transformations in urban policies, management and governance are needed to support compact, smart and green cities. These will also only be successful if supported by business and technological innovation. In Asia and the Pacific the urban development scene is mixed. On one hand, there are a range of vibrant dynamic cities with quality civic services. On the other, there are many ill planned and poorly managed cities with unorganized development and poor infrastructure. In addition this difference occurs also within various areas of the same city.
With a ‘New Urban Agenda’ now firmly in our sights, city leaders have the knowledge to transform urban landscapes. New advancements in city architecture, planning, construction standards, technological solutions and innovations, offer opportunities to make our cities inclusive, sustainable, safer, and resilient. Redesigning, reconstructing and transforming cities to be compact, integrated, smart, efficient and low carbon is the way forward. So, what are underlying challenges and opportunities in moving towards aspirational urban models?
First, compact and mixed-use urban development offers the prospect of managing urban growth patterns while potentially improving the quality of life. Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore have all achieved high standards of living in midst of growing city density. However, we must not equate compact centers of dense cities to be aspirational urban forms. In the case of ASEAN and South Asia, urban density and lack of infrastructure has compounded and magnified air pollution, traffic congestion, sewage issues, waste management problems and population health.
Second, the experience of the Asia-Pacific region demonstrates that dealing with density has its challenges and compactness and can be complex to structure. Economies of agglomeration can be achieved by promoting compact human settlements underpinned by mixed economic uses. Effectively planned density can reduce mobility needs and lower service delivery costs per capita.
Third, the application of new technologies is integral to ensuring sustainability of urban renewal projects and new smart cities. Well planned and integrated approaches of urban regeneration/renewal that benefit both low and middle class households help to stimulate the return of populations to urban cores which promotes functional density, better integration and inclusiveness.
Fourth, coordinated and integrated urban planning combined with effective connectivity and transportation systems must be the foundation of new urban forms and networks. Transit-oriented development, in which higher-density mixed-use areas are permitted near the transit stops facilitates compact development particularly in areas surrounding light and heavy rail transit systems.
Fifth, the right policy and technology mix are needed to support the COP21 climate change commitments. A focus on integrating efficient low carbon public transport and energy options as well as, low-carbon or carbon-free mobility, such as cycling, walking and promoting car-pooling, will help to dramatically reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions.
To conclude, cities will continue to grow, hence we must capitalize on the opportunities compact cities can bring. Efficient urban planning and well-designed compact cities can enable better access to services, quality infrastructure, and more eco- and resource-efficient outcomes. There are great opportunities for advancing the principles of compact cities. The Global Forum for Human Settlements can support both the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. I look forward to working with all of the partners to make this happen.
With a ‘New Urban Agenda’ now firmly in our sights, city leaders have the knowledge to transform urban landscapes. New advancements in city architecture, planning, construction standards, technological solutions and innovations, offer opportunities to make our cities inclusive, sustainable, safer, and resilient. Redesigning, reconstructing and transforming cities to be compact, integrated, smart, efficient and low carbon is the way forward. So, what are underlying challenges and opportunities in moving towards aspirational urban models?
First, compact and mixed-use urban development offers the prospect of managing urban growth patterns while potentially improving the quality of life. Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore have all achieved high standards of living in midst of growing city density. However, we must not equate compact centers of dense cities to be aspirational urban forms. In the case of ASEAN and South Asia, urban density and lack of infrastructure has compounded and magnified air pollution, traffic congestion, sewage issues, waste management problems and population health.
Second, the experience of the Asia-Pacific region demonstrates that dealing with density has its challenges and compactness and can be complex to structure. Economies of agglomeration can be achieved by promoting compact human settlements underpinned by mixed economic uses. Effectively planned density can reduce mobility needs and lower service delivery costs per capita.
Third, the application of new technologies is integral to ensuring sustainability of urban renewal projects and new smart cities. Well planned and integrated approaches of urban regeneration/renewal that benefit both low and middle class households help to stimulate the return of populations to urban cores which promotes functional density, better integration and inclusiveness.
Fourth, coordinated and integrated urban planning combined with effective connectivity and transportation systems must be the foundation of new urban forms and networks. Transit-oriented development, in which higher-density mixed-use areas are permitted near the transit stops facilitates compact development particularly in areas surrounding light and heavy rail transit systems.
Fifth, the right policy and technology mix are needed to support the COP21 climate change commitments. A focus on integrating efficient low carbon public transport and energy options as well as, low-carbon or carbon-free mobility, such as cycling, walking and promoting car-pooling, will help to dramatically reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions.
To conclude, cities will continue to grow, hence we must capitalize on the opportunities compact cities can bring. Efficient urban planning and well-designed compact cities can enable better access to services, quality infrastructure, and more eco- and resource-efficient outcomes. There are great opportunities for advancing the principles of compact cities. The Global Forum for Human Settlements can support both the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda. I look forward to working with all of the partners to make this happen.
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