What Is Sustainable Urban
Development?
 As
population grows the urbanisation of society is inevitable.
Urbanisation leads to an increased impact on the environment; the
'ecological footprint' of cities is spreading.
The impact of growth on all areas of society must be acknowledged.
Sustainable growth requires an evolution in the way urban areas
carry out their activities such as resource use and the movement of
people and goods. The physical infrastructure in addition to social
and economic processes must evolve to acknowledge the challenges of
growth.
Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. However, sustainable urban
development implies a process by which sustainability can be
attained, emphasising improvement, progress and positive change,
incorporating both environmental and social dimensions.
 Sustainable urban development highlights the need for reform of
market mechanisms to achieve environmental goals and the achievement
of a balance with social and economic considerations.
Several themes common to all definitions of sustainable urban
development have emerged:
- A change in the quality of growth.
- The conservation and minimisation of the depletion of
non-renewable resources.
- A merging of economic decisions with those on the environment.
- A strong consideration of the needs of future generations.
"By the year 2000, half the world's people will be living in
cities. The urbanization of society is part of the development
process, and cities generate 60 percent of gross national product. A
growing number of cities, however, are showing symptoms of the
global environment and development crisis, " Agenda 21 ("The Earth
Summit") and UN Sustainable Cities Programme.
Cities should be healthy, providing housing and employment
opportunities, meet environmental standards and be sustainable.
Sustainability needs to be a addressed on a global scale, reforms
need to concentrate on the interaction of the urban environment with
the global economy and environment.
Major development agencies such as the World Bank, the Asian
Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme
undertake significant work on urban development, however, little
research on urban sustainability has been conducted in Asia. Asia
has almost 45% of the world's population and six of the world's
largest cities and cannot allow research to lag behind Europe.
Local and international debate on urban sustainability issues needs
to be encouraged and sustainable development strategies for Hong
Kong and other cities in China and the Asia-Pacific region
developed.
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