The New Global Frontier: Urbanization, Poverty and Environment in the 21st Century [Hardcover]

The worlds developing countries will be experiencing massive increases in their urban populations over the 21st century. If managed intelligently and humanely, this growth can pave the way to sustainable development; otherwise, it will favour higher levels of poverty and environmental stress. The outcome depends on decisions being made now.The principal theme that runs through this volume is the need to transform urbanization into a positive force for development. Part I of this book reviews the demography of the urban transition, stressing the importance of benefi cial rural-urban connections and challenging commonly held misconceptions. Part II asks how urban housing, land and service provision can be improved in the face of rapid urban expansion, drawing lessons from experiences around the world. Part III analyses the challenges and opportunities that urbanization presents for improving living environments and reducing pressures on local and global ecosystems. These social and environmental challenges must be met in the context of fast-changing demographic circumstances; Part IV explores the range of opportunities that these transformations represent. These challenges and opportunities vary greatly across Africa, Asia and Latin America, as detailed in Part V.Published with IIED and UNFPAIntroduction * Part I: Urban Transitions * The Demography of the Urban Transition: What We Know and Don t Know * Urbanization, Poverty and Inequity: Is Rural-Urban Migration a Poverty Problem, or Part of the Solution? * Demographic and Urban Transitions in a Global System and Policy Responses * Part II: Shelter and Urban Poverty * Land and Services for the Urban Poor in Rapidly Urbanizing Countries * Informality and Poverty in Latin American Urban Policies * Preparing for Urban Expansion: A Proposed Strategy for Intermediate Cities in Ecuador * Organizations of the Urban Poor and Equitable Urban Development: Process and Product * Part III: The Social and Sustainable Use of Space *ls*