November 29, 2010 World Urban Forum 6 Prosperity of Cities: Balancing Ecology, Economy and Equity Concept Note 1
CONTENT Thematic Continuity Conceptualizing the Theme The 6 Domains of Prosperity The WUF Dialogues 2 World Urban Forum 6 Concept Note
Thematic Continuity Fourth Session of WUF (2008): Harmonious Cities o o o Spatial or Regional Harmony Social and Economic Harmony Environmental Harmony. Fifth Session of WUF (2010): Bridging the Urban Divide o Inclusion and the right to the city (social harmony component) Global Report on Human Settlements (2011): Climate Change and Cities o (Environmental harmony). Sixth Session of WUF (2012): Prosperity of Cities o (Economic Harmony) World Urban Forum 6 Concept Note
Conceptualizing the Theme Urbanization is more a transformative process than a transition process. As countries urbanize they become more advanced, developed and richer. The search of prosperity a main cause of the existence of cities Moving/staying in a city is an objective desire to have a better life. Cities are the places where humanity realizes needs, ideas, ambitions and aspirations. 4 World Urban Forum 6 Concept Note
Conceptualizing Prosperity Cities are places where Human beings can flourish, feel happy and healthy Business, trade and different forms of productivity can thrive, develop and generate wealth Prosperity is the essence of progress and the way development materializes. Urbanization a truly global experience Synonymous with modernization, industrialization and development Life Expectancy 19 th Century 20 th Century 21 th Century
Conceptualizing Prosperity Prosperity means different things Eating a cooked meal every evening Owning a business worth millions Expanding choices in every aspect of life Having decent property in an adequate environment Cities and human beings are both the agents of progress and the beneficiaries of it They are the means and the ends in achieving prosperity As they contribute to prosperity they prosper in turn Unfortunately progress has not been evenly spread prosperity has not been given for every one.
World Urban Forum 6 Prosperity of Cities: Balancing Ecology, Economy and Equity The Forum aims to share perspectives and view points on the contemporary relevance of prosperity and what is needed to balance ecology, economy and equity as a fundamental principle for sustainable urban development. The Forum Aims to discuss and find ways to make it easier for everyone to share the improvement in living standards, overall economic welfare and personal fulfillment that urbanization offers.
World Urban Forum 6 Prosperity of Cities: Balancing Ecology, Economy and Equity The pursuit of prosperity is not a luxury; it is neither a waste nor a new form of consumption per se; it is a form of justice and a search for equality.
The 6 Domains of Prosperity A prosperous city Contributes to local / national growth Provides employment and decent income Has good quality of life Has the necessary infrastructure Has sufficient physical assets (IT) Contributes to poverty reduction Provides necessary social services Is socially inclusive and gender sensitive Protects the rights of minorities (Re) distributes benefits, opportunities and resources Protect the city s environmental assets balancing these components is not mechanical or automatic. Has more possibilities to design and implement process of synergetic integration and coevolution of the different components
v WUF 6 is conceptually structured around six important domains They provide critical responses to some fundamental questions around the concept of Prosperity of Cities.
Sustainable Urban Development - Better City, Better Life - World Urban Campaign Equity - Equitable distribution of benefits of development - Protection of the rights of the poor, minorities vulnerable groups - Enhancing gender equality - Participation, civic and political spheres Productive cities - Economic Development - Decent jobs and employment - Equal opportunities - Economic policy reforms - Innovation, research - Science and technology Quality of Life - Access to social amenities and social services - Public goods - Sound conditions of living - Water and sanitation - Housing Environmental Sustainability - Energy Consumption - Ecological balance and environmental protection - Sustainable resource use - Climate change and green economy PROSPERITY OF CITIES Balancing Ecology, Economy and Equity Infrastructure Development - Trunk infrastructure and transport technology - Roads and Highways - Telecommunications - Digital information solutions - Sound financial systems - Entrepreneurial development
World Urban Forum 6 Prosperity of Cities: Balancing Ecology, Economy and Equity Dialogues
PROSPERITY OF CITIES Balancing Ecology, Economy and Equity Dialogue 1 Productive cities Dialogue 2 Quality of life Dialogue 3 Equity Dialogue 4 Infrastructure development Dialogue 5 Environmental sustainability Urban/Regional Planning Governance Economy Equity Economy Ecology Dialogue 6 Sustainable urban development
Dialogue 1 Dialogue 3 Dialogue 2 Dialogue 5 Dialogue 4 Sustainable Urban Development Dialogue 6
Dialogue 1 Competitive and Innovative Cities Cities are the Wealth of Nations. Undeniable link between cities and economic development. Cities specializing in industrial development, transport hubs and market centers experience the fastest growth. Cities in urban corridors, city-regions and mega-regions produce disproportionate economic outputs WUF 6: economic development and productivity of cities is largely driven by knowledge and innovation. WUF 6: cities that foster innovation are looking more and more to green economy and green growth strategies.
Dialogue 1 Competitive and Innovative Cities Focus on one dimension of productive cities: competitive and innovative cities. Dialogue 1 will explore what cities are doing to be more attractive and productive in order to become or remain competitive by developing innovative solutions in different areas through learning, research or experience Initial Q. What are cities doing to be more competitive and foster innovation? How a city can remain productive while adopting a green economy? What are local/national authorities doing to strengthen PPP? How can poor cities become innovative to be more productive?
Dialogue 2 Quality of Life Quality of life is essential for a city to prosper Despite differences, quality of life is much the same in Jakarta, Naples, Nairobi, Los Angeles or Bogotá. Well-designed cities create adequate conditions for quality of life to nurture and flourish Quality of life is a public good that is not available for everyone WUF 6: quality of life is the product of the interplay among political, social, health, economic and environmental conditions. WUF 6: cities are the places where this interaction takes form and where quality of life can be experienced and delivered
Dialogue 2 Quality of Life Focus on one dimension of quality of life cities: High Quality Public Spaces Dialogue 2 will analyze the benefits associated to public spaces in promoting more sustainable development and the impediment to create and manage them. Initial Q. Why despite their importance, public spaces are reducing? How national governments participate in the provision and management of public spaces? What are cities doing to transform their streets into quality public spaces? Which are the positive experiences in the provision and management of public spaces?
Dialogue 3 Equity Inequalities related to opportunities in life, political participation, income/consumption and access to resources, among others, have persisted. New forms of inequality have emerged, such as inequalities in access to communication technologies, skills development and abilities. No city can claim to be prosperous when large segments of its population are excluded or live in abject poverty WUF 6: equity has attracted growing explicit attention in the development discourse; much less in the development agenda WUF 6: The search for equity is not only fundamental to reduce poverty and exclusion; it is also essential to progress and development. WUF 6: equitable societies are in the long-run more efficient
Dialogue 3 Equity Focus on one dimension of equity and inclusion: Distribution of of Wealth and Opportunities Dialogue 3 will address equity issues in policymaking, particularly those related to an efficient distribution of income, resources and opportunities and the role of local authorities. Initial Q. What is the role of culture and political development in determining the attitude of governments towards wealth distribution? What works at city/national levels as redistributive policies? How can distributive policies be connected to human capital formation for higher sustainability? How can land taxation systems contribute to a more egalitarian access to land and basic services?
Dialogue 4 Infrastructure Development Physical infrastructure contributes to economic development and social infrastructure to quality of life. Connectivity is essential to economic growth and poverty reduction. Many cities are facing severe problems to expand infrastructure facilities keeping up with rapid growth. WUF 6: The dearth of infrastructure reduces city competitiveness and generates negative externalities (pollution, wasted time, fuel cost, safety cost, GHG emissions) WUF 6: transport connectivity is one of the most important drivers of city growth.
Dialogue 4 Infrastructure Development Focus on one dimension of infrastructure: Urban Mobility as as Engine for Prosperity Dialogue 4 will focus on the role of infrastructure development supporting urban mobility. Mass transportation and other non-motorized solutions increases connectivity and interactions, which are essential for economic growth and city prosperity. It will analyze the prospects and challenges that cities face to adopt efficient solutions for urban mobility. A connection will be established between infrastructure provision, mass transportation and energy conservation and its benefits on climate change. Initial Q. How can cities mobilize investments to finance infrastructure development to enhance urban mobility? How can poor cities adopt mass transportation solutions to be more prosperous? How can cities move to greener transport options, reconciling present needs with long-term solutions? How can sustainable solutions be adopted?
Dialogue 5 Environmental Sustainability countries and cities have now a clearer picture on how and where to act and what to measure. (ES) can not only expand the resource base but to be economically productive. (ES) has to do with justice, equity and security; all elements of a prosperous city. WUF 6: (ES) is increasingly coming to the fore. Not as a complement but an essential part of progress and prosperity. WUF 6: Global climate change can reduce the prospects of achieving sustainable urban development if corrective actions are not taken today. WUF 6: Cities need to do more efforts to green the economy by reconfiguring business and the infrastructure in order to consume less energy and reduce GHG.
Dialogue 6 Sustainable Urban Development SUD is a concept that signals a new way of doing things based on the notion that there are some fundamental unresolved questions to address: the issues of equity, poverty and social justice, among others. WUF 6: There is a need of a political and social commitment that can balance the core values of economic prosperity, environmental integrity and social equity. WUF 6: SUD will only happen if it is explicitly planned. It requires management of demands, rather than meeting all demands. A clear definition of how resources are to be administered, allocated and re-distributed to ensure efficiency and equity. WUF 6: To make SUD a feasible objective, there is a need of operational and interlinked series of actions, integrating the different domains of prosperity.
Dialogue 6 Sustainable Urban Development Dialogue 6 will engage in a discussion on how to achieve SUD. It will respond to questions such as what is required to achieve this desired goal and what decision-makers should prioritize. Participants will explore innovative, integrated approaches that cities are taking in pursuit of SUD, trying to balance environmental safety, social inclusion and economic development. The discussion can be framed along the 5 dimensions of city prosperity that were analyzed in the previous 5 dialogues. Initial Q. What is needed to govern for SUD? What comes first when achieving SUD? It is possible to define a common action? What is the role of the different levels of government and the international community concerning SUD? What is the role of planning and urban management when addressing long-term sustainable development issues? How to bring unsustainable patterns of urban growth such as urban sprawl?
World Urban Forum 6 Prosperity of Cities: Balancing Ecology, Economy and Equity Gracias