Getting to grips
with the unprecedented speed of urban expansion
Sustainable cities and strategic thinking
F “The need
for upgrading infrastructure in urban areas is urgent, and cities and municipal authorities are
facing challenges in meeting the rising demand.”
OPEC Fund Director-General 34
resh and strategic thinking about how to address the challenges of rapid urbanization was inspired by an event held in
Vienna, organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation. The BRIDGE for Cities 4.0 Belt and Road Initiative: Developing Green Economies for Cities aimed to advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda (
http://habitat3.org/the-new- urban-agenda/) and encourage development stakeholders to scale-up engagement in inclusive and sustainable urban-industrial development initiatives. Speaking at the opening session of the event, the OPEC Fund’s Director-General Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The challenges facing cities are accelerated by the unprecedented speed of expansion.
Hence, investments made now will be crucial for the future, as cities are the key economic centers for industrialization. Growing urban populations, as well as the migration of people from rural areas, are putting immense pressure on infrastructure, particularly in cities. The need for upgrading infrastructure in urban areas is therefore urgent, and cities and municipal authorities are facing challenges in meeting the rising demand.” He continued: “Therefore, in
promoting sustainable urbanization, the OPEC Fund works to improve the delivery of essential services and to make cities more resilient to flooding, coastal erosion and other natural disasters. It also supports enhanced mobility through the construction of mass rapid transit systems and other road infrastructure.”
Delegates discussed the
opportunities presented by the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’
(see below) and reinforced the importance of expanding ownership and support for sustainable and smart cities development. The BRIDGE for Cities Concept Note outlined how industrialization has been the most decisive factor for the growth of cities, both in terms of population and expansion: “While the First Industrial
Revolution has contributed to the urbanization of villages by offering opportunities for economies of scale, it was the Second Industrial Revolution and the electrification of industrial processes that shaped cities as we see them today. Cities grew bigger, but distances were reduced with the introduction of automobiles. Factories increased in number and size, thus leading to urban sprawl, congestion, pollution and environmental degradation. However, urbanization and industrialization also contributed to an overall improvement in standards of living in those countries that industrialized first and
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59
