To what extent can the problems of urbanisation be met by a policy of sustainable development?
Title: To what extent can the problems of urbanisation be met by a policy of sustainable development?
As Allen (2009) has remarked, urbanisation is and will be the phenomenon of this century with its ever-increasing impacts on many facets of lives over the world. It can be the root cause of many major problems in the modern societies. This essay will explore the degree to which sustainable development policy can address problems caused by urbanisation.
Urbanisation, as defined by Afify, is a process in which an increasing fraction of a region, both in area and population, becomes included in urban structures like cities or towns. From this perspective, such a transition is not a problem itself. However due to the implied changes in major foundational factors such as demographics, infrastructure, urbanisation if undergoing in a rapid pace, which has been true for many cases, can result in many problems, either economic, environmental or social (Afify, pp.1). For example, the rapid urbanisation in India has led to a massive accumulation of solid waste, the presence of housing shortages and slums, the consequence lack of public transport, and the deficiency of electricity (http://www.fairobserver.com , 2012) .
These potential problems are arguably the rationales for the idea of sustainable development (SD), which is defined broadly as development that fulfills our generation 's needs without affecting that of future generations in the 'Our Common Future ' 1987 report by the Brundtland Commission. In the policy view, it is the call for the promotion of harmonic development of the three pillars of economic development, social equity and environmental protection (Drexhage & Murphy, 2010). An example of a policy of sustainable development is the tradable emission permits in the US, where factories, each with an allocated emission cap, can 'buy ' the right to emit more from less emitting ones, which should supposedly ensure a controlled level of pollution
As Allen (2009) has remarked, urbanisation is and will be the phenomenon of this century with its ever-increasing impacts on many facets of lives over the world. It can be the root cause of many major problems in the modern societies. This essay will explore the degree to which sustainable development policy can address problems caused by urbanisation.
Urbanisation, as defined by Afify, is a process in which an increasing fraction of a region, both in area and population, becomes included in urban structures like cities or towns. From this perspective, such a transition is not a problem itself. However due to the implied changes in major foundational factors such as demographics, infrastructure, urbanisation if undergoing in a rapid pace, which has been true for many cases, can result in many problems, either economic, environmental or social (Afify, pp.1). For example, the rapid urbanisation in India has led to a massive accumulation of solid waste, the presence of housing shortages and slums, the consequence lack of public transport, and the deficiency of electricity (http://www.fairobserver.com , 2012) .
These potential problems are arguably the rationales for the idea of sustainable development (SD), which is defined broadly as development that fulfills our generation 's needs without affecting that of future generations in the 'Our Common Future ' 1987 report by the Brundtland Commission. In the policy view, it is the call for the promotion of harmonic development of the three pillars of economic development, social equity and environmental protection (Drexhage & Murphy, 2010). An example of a policy of sustainable development is the tradable emission permits in the US, where factories, each with an allocated emission cap, can 'buy ' the right to emit more from less emitting ones, which should supposedly ensure a controlled level of pollution
References: Fair Observer ( 3rd September 2012) Problems of Urban India Available at http://www.fairobserver.com/article/problems-urban-india Accessed 12th July 2013 United Nations Headquarters New York , (September 2010) Sustainable Development: From Brundtland to Rio 2012 Background Paper prepared for consideration by the High Level Panel on Global Sustainability , by Drexhage J