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

State of the World’s Cities 2012/2013factThe overallpicture in LatinAmerican cities is one ofinadequate commitment toenvironmental sustainability,with the concomitantabsence of policies orstrategies. This leavesrelatively few opportunitiesfor wider participation inenvironmental policies,which can only furtherexacerbate the negativeeffects of economicdevelopment and urbanactivities on the naturalenvironment.Figure 2.5.4Environmental Impact of Growth* – Latin America and Caribbean Citiesper cent9080706050403020policy10Latin America0and theCaribbean is the regionwhere a greater proportionof local experts believe thateconomic development* As perceived by local experts surveyed by UN-Habitatand urban activities haveSource: UN-Habitat, City Monitoring Branch, Policy Survey, 2011(unintended) detrimentaleffects on the environment.degrees of economic de-France, from 2008 onwards, a determined mayor hasdevelopment. Thetaken action, challenging environmental misbehaviour –consequences of economic particularly with regard to solid waste – and vigorouslydevelopment on the environment are considered asenforcing rules and regulations across all sectors through‘serious’ or ‘very serious’ by majorities of local experts in a so-called ‘green brigade’. 24 Similarly in Medellín, theGuadalajara, Lima, Ciudad de Este, Medellín, La Paz and municipality’s environmental department implementsValparaíso (Figure 2.5.4). In Medellín, experts point to the a variety of ‘sustainable’ policies with regard to noise224,000 tons of pollutants discharged annually into the pollution, global warming, water conservation andatmosphere, of which 66 per cent are traceable to traffic reforestation. A range of targets have been set involvingin a city that keeps expanding rapidly in both surface various greenhouse gas emission controls and airarea and population. 21 In Santo Domingo, rapid urban quality. As one local expert put it, “the municipality issprawl and population expansion are fuelled by natural awakening and educating people towards a more responsibleresource exploitation, and the two combine with weak environmental behaviour.” 25institutions to compound environmental problems. 22 InLima, an overwhelming number of local experts concur Environmental Sustainability: A Catalystthat environmental sustainability has not been a priority in for City Prosperitythe management of the city. The few existing initiatives are Environmental sustainability offers cities huge scope forlargely uncoordinated, though all under the responsibility of the balanced economic growth that can pave the waythe central rather than local government. 23to prosperity. This includes opportunities for new typesOn the other hand, environmental sustainabilityof employment and investment, poverty alleviation andpolicies have worked relatively well in Fort-de-France, reduced inequity together with new types of infrastructuresHavana and Venezuela’s Guarenas. In the case of Fort-and services.GuadalajaraLimaEsteSanto DomingoMedellinLa PazValparaisoPanamaSantosGuarenasTijuanaMontevideoLa HabanaRosarioFort-De-FranceAll SampledArab Cities82