STATE OF THE WORLD'S CITIES 2012/2013 Prosperity

More documents

Recommendations

Info

UN-Habitat has identified various areas of intervention which governments with different political orientations and levels of development still consider as priority interventions: safety and security, efficient public transport, public spaces, healthcare and adequate housing, appear to be among the most important. Public Safety and Quality of Life: A safe and secure life for all is an integral component of a prosperous city. As an expert in Nairobi states, “quality of life only makes sense when there is adequate security”. 19 Experts in 52 cities in the developing world agreed that this is the most important factor contributing to a sense of empowerment and a feeling that one is part of a prosperous city. In Lima, for instance, a survey on quality of life conducted by a citizens’ observatory found that 73 per cent of the population considers urban insecurity as the main problem that conspires against quality of life and prosperity. 20 A survey on “urban lifestyles” conducted in 2010 by Veolia Observatory in seven cities in both developing and developed nations found that in three of these cities (Chicago, London and São Paulo) insecurity appears as the most important problem, and in another (Paris) it features as the third most important. 21 By itself, security may not bring prosperity to any city, but its absence is fatal. Economic inequity and/or instability nurtures high perceptions of crime and violence in various cities around the world, and inadequate urban planning law enforcement drives many high- and middle-class residents into gated communities and other guarded urban and suburban enclaves22 , creating pockets of prosperity. This type of privilege remains unaffordable to those on low incomes, whose safety is often more at risk. Personal safety is seriously detrimental to freedom, mobility, productivity and public interactions, all of which are crucial to ensuring a high quality of life. Crime and violence can hinder, and sometimes, paralyze regional and national economies. High rates of violence and insecurity in Kingston (Jamaica) and Nairobi (Kenya) have stultified the otherwise thriving tourist sectors in these countries. 23 Even though urban insecurity is to large extent POLICy the result of extreme inequalities, it can also generate further social and spatial disparities that restrain access to employment, resources Effective public safety is a fundamental ‘common good’ that enhances quality of life for all, and is a major foundation of urban prosperity. 65 FACT Quality of Life and Urban Prosperity In 19 cities out of the 52 surveyed by UN-Habitat, an overwhelming majority of experts (more than 80 per cent) rated security to work and live freely as a major contributor to prosperity. In cities like Praia, Cebu, Algiers, Chongqing, Singapore, La Paz and Amman, nearly all experts rated security as ‘contributing’ or ‘highly contributing’ to prosperity. and opportunities. Moreover, unsafe cities and perceptions of insecurity also lead to more fragmented, sprawled and car-dependent urban environments. The fear of crime and violence not only increases reliance on private automobiles through the proliferation of low-density, peri-urban gated communities, it also deters the public from using public transport. Extensive provision of public goods such as parks, schools, basic services, sports facilities and community centres, particularly in more violent neighbourhoods, together with strong participation from local communities, has enabled Medellín to enhance safety through social cohesion. Reviving the public space: In a large number of cities, provision, preservation and improvement of public spaces remains a neglected agenda. According to a local expert in Panama City, “in practice, the concept of public space does not exist”. 24 In Cebu, an expert mentions that “public parks, playground areas and recreational facilities are grossly inadequate”. 25 Another in Al-Muharrak (Bahrain) states that “the city has been losing green areas and today the proportion of gardens is small”. 26 Nearly one-third FACT of local experts in Latin America, 25 per cent in African cities and more than 10 per cent in Asia and the Arab States said lack of public security was not properly addressed in their respective cities. As many other public goods, ‘green’ and open areas tend to be enclosed, restricted, or depleted by unsustainable use. In Amman, city authorities have been converting public areas and parks into developments. In India, confessional groups erect temples in Many public spaces public parks; in Bangladesh FACT are residual urban areas that are exposed developers construct to speculation for private housing in open public profit. In other cities, public areas; in Nairobi, private spaces remain concentrated interests occupy riparian in the affluent areas. lands. 27
State of the World’s Cities 2012/2013 POLICy Cities that reevaluate their notion of the public and thereby provide green areas, parks, recreation facilities and public spaces demonstrate a commitment to improved quality of life. POLICy Cities that enhance and sustain the use of public space have enhanced community cohesion, civic identity and quality of life. Box 2.3.3 Greenery and Quality of Life in Asian Cities In Amman, parks represent 12 per cent of the total land area; however, in the eastern part of the city, with the highest population density, open spaces are very scarce. 28 In some other cities, Internet 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.com Many cities across the developing world, especially in Asia and the Arab States, are creating new parks in an effort to meet international standards for green area per capita (i.e., eight square meters per head). 32 In the past five years, Shenzhen has created 435 new parks as part of the “Eco-city Programme” and the “Garden City Plan”, achieving a ratio of 16.3 sqm in 2009. As a result, the urban ecological environment in Shenzhen has gradually improved and with it quality of life. 33 Also in China, Chongqing has increased the combined green belt and public square surface area by a multiple 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 city is also preserving its rich biodiversity with four nature reserves which cover more than 3.000 ha, and are legally protected to safeguard key indigenous ecosystems. These initiatives contribute to a cleaner environment, shaping the country’s landscape and enhancing quality of life. Recently, greenery has been given even more emphasis, with a new plan for a “City-In-a-Garden”’. 35 66 particularly those aiming at ‘world-class’ status, parks and ‘green’ spaces have a more ornamental or ‘image’ role than a real ‘public good’ one. Parks and ‘green’ spaces have always been associated with better quality of urban life. In Praia, a city where such spaces are very scarce, a newly opened, small public square has become a major place for recreation, leisure and socialization despite its reduced dimensions. 29 In Guadalajara, Mexico, temporary appropriation of streets and public spaces for pedestrian and cycling purposes has become extremely popular. As a result, this recreational project, known as ‘vía recreativa’, has been extended Box 2.3.4 Internet, Information and Quality of Life Basic needs are rapidly changing. Access to Internet is increasingly becoming an essential component of quality of life. In many cities today, Internet is used not just to communicate, socialize and learn, but also to promote public participation and to assess citizens’ perceptions of urban affairs. Formal recognition of right to information (i.e., India, 2005; the Philippines, 2008; South Africa, 2000) empowers citizens and encourages participation in governance and government programmes. The cities of Hyderabad, Cebu, and Johannesburg, amongst many others, are introducing e-governance to enable many services on-line − issuance of documents, payments, ticketing, applications and complaints − as a major step to enhance quality of life. In India more than 500 million cell phones are currently in use, and many with reduced call rates. This is improving the connectivity of poor and rich alike, and enhancing economic opportunities for the urban poor. As stated by a local expert in India, “Internet is an empowerment tool”.
Page 1 and 2:
PRODUCTIVITY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINA
Page 3 and 4:
Copyright © United Nations Human S
Page 5 and 6:
Foreword This is a time of crises.
Page 7:
Acknowledgements CORE TEAM Director
Page 11 and 12:
Chapter 1.1 Conceptualizing Urban P
Page 13 and 14:
State of the World’s Cities 2012/
Page 15 and 16: State of the World’s Cities 2012/
Page 35 and 36: Part Two
Page 37 and 38: Chapter 2.1 Productivity and the Pr
Page 49 and 50: Chapter 2.2 Urban Infrastructure: B
Page 65: State of the World’s Cities 2012/
Page 69 and 70: Chapter 2.4 Equity and the Prosperi
Page 79 and 80: Chapter 2.5 Environmental Sustainab
Page 89: Part Three Policies for Prosperous
Page 92 and 93: 91 From Comparative Advantage to Ur
Page 94 and 95: Urban planning can contribute to th
Page 96 and 97: participation and erodes the relati
Page 98 and 99: providing adequate infrastructure a
Page 100 and 101: urban poor, particularly in slums a
Page 102 and 103: cities, the business environment is
Page 104 and 105: Chapter 3.2 Innovating to Support t
Page 106 and 107: Innovating to Support the Transitio
Page 108 and 109: model to rebuild local government a
Page 110 and 111: exceptions, modern urban planning h
Page 112 and 113: Working on the five ‘spokes’: I
Page 114 and 115: As suggested earlier, it is in the
Page 116 and 117:
Urban Planning/Design & Prosperity
Page 118 and 119:
Box 3.2.3 Individual versus collect
Page 120 and 121:
uilding codes to support urban refo
Page 122 and 123:
10 Government of Singapore (2010) S
Page 124 and 125:
Table 1 City Prosperity Index and c
Page 126 and 127:
Table 2 Proportion of urban populat
Page 128 and 129:
Urban Slum Population at Mid-year b
Page 130 and 131:
Country/City BRAzIL City Population
Page 132 and 133:
Country/City Table 4 City Populatio
Page 134 and 135:
Country/City City Population of Urb
Page 136 and 137:
Country/City InDIA Table 4 City Pop
Page 138 and 139:
Country/City IRELAnD City Populatio
Page 140 and 141:
Country/City myAnmAR City Populatio
Page 142 and 143:
Page 144 and 145:
Page 146 and 147:
Urban Population (’000) Level of
Page 148 and 149:
Page 150:
show all

STATE OF THE WORLD'S CITIES 2012/2013 Prosperity

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?