Massive urban growth can either help pave the way to sustainable development or greatly exacerbate poverty and environmental stress. The outcome depends on decisions being made now. The first part of this book takes a critical look at the forecasting of population growth and migration using the UN Population Division's cities databases. The second part looks specifically at urbanization and poverty, focusing attention on the critical issues of urban shelter, land and service provision and the socioeconomic and demographic information needed for improving governance and social programmes.Part three looks at social difference, equity and urban demography, pointing out the potential advantages of urbanization for poverty reduction, the empowerment of women and youths, and even the reduction of HIV/AIDS. The final part of the book examines social and sustainable use of urban space including coping with urban expansion, urban sprawl, global environmental change and urbanization. There is also special treatment China, and the critical case of urbanization in low elevation coastal zones in the context of global climate change and rising sea levels.The world is now mostly urban and city populations are set to explode by another 3-4 billion this century just as sea levels start to rise - how can we make the right decisions now to avoid disaster and promote sustainable development? This book provides comprehensive coverage of all the key issues of urban sustainability and solutions to poverty and environmental degradation. It is essential reading for everyone working on urban issues world-wide in any context.
Introduction; Part I: Urban Transitions; The Urban Transition and Decentralization; Demographics and Transitions in a Global System; Urbanization, Poverty and Inequity; Urbanization in Latin America; Part II: Urbanization and Poverty; Shelter and Poverty; Land and Services for the Poor in Rapidly Urbanizing Countries; Community Organizations of the Urban Poor; Socioeconomic and Demographic Information for Social Policies; African Migration and Urbanization; Growth Patterns and its Implications for Scenarios in India; Part III: Social Difference and Urban Demography; Poverty and Growth; Gender; Youth; Ageing in Developing Countries; HIV/AIDS; Part IV: Social and Sustainable Use of Space; Overview; Sprawl and Sustainable Cities; A New Way of Looking at Urban Areas; Preparing for Expansion; Informality and Poverty in Latin American Policies; Urban Transition in China; Urbanization in Low Elevation Coastal Zones; Bibliography, Index.
(0 Comentarios)
