state of the world's cities 2012/2013 - United Nations Sustainable ...

State of the World’s Cities 2012/2013policyCities thatreevaluatetheir notion of the publicand thereby provide greenareas, parks, recreationfacilities and public spacesdemonstrate a commitmentto improved quality of life.policyCities thatenhance andsustain the use of publicspace have enhancedcommunity cohesion, civicidentity and quality of life.Box 2.3.3Greenery and Quality of Life in Asian CitiesMany cities across the developing world, especially in Asia and the Arab States, are creating newparks in an effort to meet international standards for green area per capita (i.e., eight square metersper head). 32 In the past five years, Shenzhen has created 435 new parks as part of the “Eco-cityProgramme” and the “Garden City Plan”, achieving a ratio of 16.3 sqm in 2009. As a result, theurban ecological environment in Shenzhen has gradually improved and with it quality of life. 33 Alsoin China, Chongqing has increased the combined green belt and public square surface area by amultiple of 16 in the last 30 years. 34 The state-city of Singapore is a leading example in the world,with greenery over 50 per cent of the surface area and over 450 public parks and gardens. The cityis also preserving its rich biodiversity with four nature reserves which cover more than 3.000 ha, andare legally protected to safeguard key indigenous ecosystems. These initiatives contribute to a cleanerenvironment, shaping the country’s landscape and enhancing quality of life. Recently, greenery hasbeen given even more emphasis, with a new plan for a “City-In-a-Garden”’. 35In Amman, parksrepresent 12 per cent of the total land area; however, inthe eastern part of the city, with the highest populationdensity, open spaces are very scarce. 28 In some other cities,particularly those aiming at ‘world-class’ status, parks and‘green’ spaces have a more ornamental or ‘image’ role thana real ‘public good’ one.Parks and ‘green’ spaces have always been associatedwith better quality of urban life. In Praia, a city wheresuch spaces are very scarce, a newly opened, small publicsquare has become a major place for recreation, leisureand socialization despite its reduced dimensions. 29 InGuadalajara, Mexico, temporary appropriation of streetsand public spaces for pedestrian and cycling purposes hasbecome extremely popular. As a result, this recreationalproject, known as ‘vía recreativa’, has been extendedBox 2.3.4Internet, Information and Quality of LifeInternet café, Maroc telecom, and teleboutique signs in Morocco.Access to the Internet is now a vital asset for both poor and rich.© 2012 Alistair Laming/fotoLIBRA.comBasic needs are rapidly changing. Access to Internet isincreasingly becoming an essential component of qualityof life. In many cities today, Internet is used not just tocommunicate, socialize and learn, but also to promote publicparticipation and to assess citizens’ perceptions of urbanaffairs. Formal recognition of right to information (i.e., India,2005; the Philippines, 2008; South Africa, 2000) empowerscitizens and encourages participation in governance andgovernment programmes. The cities of Hyderabad, Cebu,and Johannesburg, amongst many others, are introducinge-governance to enable many services on-line − issuanceof documents, payments, ticketing, applications andcomplaints − as a major step to enhance quality of life. InIndia more than 500 million cell phones are currently in use,and many with reduced call rates. This is improving theconnectivity of poor and rich alike, and enhancing economicopportunities for the urban poor. As stated by a local expert inIndia, “Internet is an empowerment tool”.66