Introduction: Sustainable Cities in Sustainable Societies

Abstract

Sustainable urbanisation has moved to the forefront of debate, research and policy agendas over recent years. There are numerous reasons for this, differing in precise combination across countries and regions. Among the most important of these is a growing appreciation of the implications of rapid urbanisation now occurring in China, India and many other low- and middle-income countries with historically low urbanisation levels. Much of this urbanisation is emulating unsustainable resource-intensive patterns from high-income countries, with the demonstration effect enhanced by greater global mobility, globalisation of architectural and urban planning consultancies and construction firms, and the power of the media and information and communications technologies. Similarly, the related challenges posed to urban areas and regions worldwide by climate/environmental change have now become more widely understood and the urgency of taking action increasingly appreciated, even in poor cities and towns. This constitutes remarkable progress from a situation of just a few years ago when such arguments fell on deaf ears since the problems were held to be too distant in the future compared to meeting immediate demands for scarce resources. Almost everywhere, the realities of fluctuating and unpredictable weather patterns, and especially the increasing frequency and severity of extreme events, as well as extensive loss of life and both economic and environmental damage, are changing perceptions among elected urban representatives, officials and residents alike. A key marker of the increasing importance of urban issues is how they have risen up the international agenda. This is symbolised by the inclusion of a specifically urban Goal (no 11) – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable – in the set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN at the 2015 General Assembly.

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