The New Global Frontier Urbanization, Poverty and Environment in the 21st Century

About this book

Massive urban growth can either help pave the way to sustainable development or greatly exacerbate poverty and environmental stress. The outcome depends on decisions being made now. The first part of this book takes a critical look at the forecasting of population growth and migration using the UN Population Division's cities databases.

The second part looks specifically at urbanization and poverty, focusing attention on the critical issues of urban shelter, land and service provision and the socioeconomic and demographic information needed for improving governance and social programmes. Part three looks at social difference, equity and urban demography, pointing out the potential advantages of urbanization for poverty reduction, the empowerment of women and youths, and even the reduction of HIV/AIDS.

The final part of the book examines social and sustainable use of urban space including coping with urban expansion, urban sprawl, global environmental change and urbanization. There is also special treatment China, and the critical case of urbanization in low elevation coastal zones in the context of global climate change and rising sea levels.

Contents

Introduction * Part I: Urban Transitions * The Demography of the Urban Transition: What We Know and Don't Know * Urbanization, Poverty and Inequity: Is Rural-Urban Migration a Poverty Problem, or Part of the Solution? * Demographic and Urban Transitions in a Global System and Policy Responses * Part II: Shelter and Urban Poverty * Land and Services for the Urban Poor in Rapidly Urbanizing Countries * Informality and Poverty in Latin American Urban Policies * Preparing for Urban Expansion: A Proposed Strategy for Intermediate Cities in Ecuador * Organizations of the Urban Poor and Equitable Urban Development: Process and Product * Part III: The Social and Sustainable Use of Space * Urban Sustainability and Global Environmental Change: Reflections for an Urban Agenda * Risks of Climate Change for Urban Settlements in Low Elevation Coastal Zones * Urbanization and Ecosystems: Current Patterns and Future Implications * Urban Sprawl: A Challenge for Sustainability * Part IV: The Changing Face of Urban Demography and its Challenges * Notes on Urban-Rural Poverty Projections and the Role of Migration * Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality in Urban Settings: New Vulnerabilities and Opportunities * Young People in an Urban World * Urbanization and Ageing in Developing Countries * Confronting Urbanization and the AIDS Epidemic: A Double-Edged Sword * Providing Information for Social Progress in Urban Areas * Part V: Regional Patterns of Urbanization and Linkages to Development * African Urbanization: Recent Trends and Implications * Socioeconomic Heterogeneity in Urban India * The Urban Transition in China: Trends, Consequences and Policy Implications * Urbanization in Latin America and the Caribbean: Experiences and Lessons Learned * Index

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Biography

George Martine is lead author of UNFPA's State of the World Report 2007 on Urban Growth and President of the Brazilian Population Association. Gordon McGranahan is the Head of the Human Settlements Group at the IIED. Mark Montgomery is a senior associate in the Policy Research Division at the Population Council and a professor, State University of New York at Stony Brook. Rogelio Fernandez-Castilla is Director of the Technical Support Division (TSD) of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Published with IIED and UNFPA