Sustainable Urban Development (an innovative approach in the development of cities around the world)

International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences 2013 Available online at www.irjabs.com ISSN 2251-838X / Vol, 4 (6): 1543-1547 Science Explorer Publications Sustainable Urban Development (an innovative approach in the development of cities around the world) Mostafa Khazaei *1, Mohammad Taghi Razavian 2 1. M.Sc., Geography & Urban Planning, Shahid Beheshti University 2. Associate Professor, School of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University *Corresponding Author email: mostafakhazaee2008@yahoo.com ABSTRACT: The subject of sustainable urban development is considered as an important scientific subject among all urban communities. Therefore, in recent years, a considerable part of literature on urban development has been devoted to this issue. With regard to this fact, different aspects of sustainable development from various perspectives has been studied, analyzed and evaluated. In the framework of these perspectives some strategies and solutions have also been developed. Comprehensive consideration of policies, programs and projects of urban development along with a combination of integrated economic, social and environmental goals are at the top of sustainable urban development policy and planning. The fulfillment of these goals necessitates evaluation of results and consequences of urban systems including economic, social, cultural and environmental changes and requires fundamental revolutions in urban planning institutions and organizations. Making balance between large and small urban centers, collaboration among government, public and private sectors, as well as local strategic planning and policies are vital in order to achieve sustainable urban development. This paper is devoted to investigate concepts and principles of sustainable urban development, components and urban planners' role, and considers different strategies introduced and experienced around the world. Keywords: city, sustainable development, urban development, city development approach. INTRODUCTION In 1800, only 3 percent of the world's population lived in urban areas. By 1900, almost 14 percent were urbanites, although only 12 cities had 1 million or more inhabitants. Globally, urban growth peaked in the 1950s, with a population expansion of more than 3% per year. In 1950, 30 percent of the world's population resided in urban centers. The number of cities with over 1 million people had grown to 83. The world has experienced unprecedented urban growth in recent decades. In 2008, for the first time, the world's population was evenly split between urban and rural areas. There were more than 400 cities over 1 million and 19 over 10 million. More developed nations were about 74 percent urban, while 44 percent of residents of less developed countries lived in urban areas. By 2030, 6 out of every 10 people will live in a city, and by 2050, this proportion will increase to 7 out of 10 people. Currently, around half of all urban dwellers live in cities with between 100 000-500 000 people, and fewer than 10% of urban dwellers live in megacities (defined by UN HABITAT as a city with a population of more than 10 million).however, urbanization is occurring rapidly in many less developed countries. It is expected that 70 percent of the world population will be urban by 2050, and that most urban growth will occur in less developed countries. Today, the number of urban residents is growing by nearly 60 million every year. The global urban population is expected to grow roughly 1.5% per year. By the middle of the 21st century, the urban population will almost double, increasing from approximately 3.4 billion in 2009 to 6.4 billion in 2050. Almost all urban population growth in the next 30 years will occur in cities of developing countries. Between 1995 and 2005, the urban population of developing countries grew by an average of 1.2 million people per week, or around 165 000 people every day. (www.who.int/gho/urban_health/situation/urban_population). Recent indicators of global ecological systems represent the serious threat that is inflicted by human activities to life support systems, destruction of forests and desertification, agricultural soil erosion, greenhouse gas emissions, destruction of the protective ozone layer, the daily extinction of plant and animal species, per capita water consumption reduction and air/water/noise/soil/etc. pollution in almost all cities in developing countries. These are all manifestations of unsustainable development planning by urban managers. In 1950 the

world urban population was 737 million, equivalent to 29 percent of the total world population. By 1995 this figure increased to 2,603 million or 45% of the total world population. During (1990 to 2030) period the population of urban areas will grow to about 3/3 billion people. 90 percent of the people will be living in urban areas of developing countries. The housing conditions are getting worse and denser, open spaces are being vanishing, the streets are getting congested, the air quality is degrading and the natural purification capacity which is done by rivers and canals is reducing, the water level and ground waters are reducing and waters are being polluted. With the emergence of environmental waste especially in urban communities during the recent decades, the sustainable development approach was proposed as the topic of the last decade of 20 century by international organizations, and was set as the agenda for the 21st century at the international - regional and local levels. Unprecedented increase in population along with the increase of urbanization which has increased pressures and increase of the anti-environmental lifestyle have damaging effects on the biosphere. The continuity of this kind of urbanization growth, especially in its function and form in the southern continues, is a crisis and a warning of instability, and unsustainable urbanization in its current trend. When we take into account the fact that about three-quarters of the world's natural resources is used in cities (which have occupied one fiftieth of the world surface), the role and function of cities in unsustainable development becomes even more evident (Sarrafi, 2001). In other words, the sustainability principle in development projects and programs is emphasized as a general goal, a goal that is continuous and has no end. Therefore the urbanization process and its following problems, which is the outcome of rapid urban development, make the planners support much more important to achieve sustainable development. This is due to the fact that basically the sustainable development cannot be seen in environmental- economical - social and... indicators in this kind of fast movement which is mostly seen in third world countries, especially in the big cities. And basically all of these developments are mostly unstable. In this process the role of the cities and there residents are very important. Since urban population contains more than 50 percent of the total population of the world and its use pattern is completely incompatible with environment. It is predicted that by 2025 more than two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities, while urban development is a global phenomenon, but most urban growth are happening in developing countries, so that more than 90% of the world's urban population will live in these countries (Ostadi, 2008). Because of high concerns about the consequences of human activity on the earth by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution, for a comprehensive review of global development and environmental issues, the world commission headed by Ms. Brandt Land from Norway was held in late 1983. The Commission's final report entitled "Our Common Future" was released and since then the term "sustainable development" has widely used. The Commission defined sustainable development as a development that provides the needs of today without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their needs (Sarrafi, 1996). Figure 1.Largest Urban Agglomerations, 1975, 2000, 2025 Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2007 Revision. The concept of sustainable development Sustainable development can be defined as returning to the nature from one century industrialization ruling, trade and urbanization as indicators of national progress (Aslani, 2001). Sustainable development is a process in which economical, financial, commercial, agricultural, industrial and other policies are designed such that

bring about development that is economically, socially and ecologically sustainable, and it means to invest enough in education, health, industry and energy. In a way that the public debt would not restored for future generations (Brank, Ran, Maboobalhagh, 2001). Sustainable development means creating an economical, social and political stability to ensure the optimum quality of life and can maintain ecosystem, natural resources and human well-being sustainability (Hosseinzadeh Dalir, 2001). Sustainable development means utilizing natural resources according to the environmental capacities in a way that the natural order of the environment would not be distort and would not bring any environmental pollution (Radcliffe, 1996). Sustainable urban development Theory of sustainable urban development requires changes in the political, social, economical and physical backgrounds. Regional development and urban management should be based on the principles of sustainable development and urban planners should consider the damaging effects of modernism and postmodernism in the city and revise their theoretical defeat and allocate a sustainable charter in the cities and their schedules. Urban planners and managers of twenty-first century must put aside the comprehensive plans based on the statistical aspects and declare their defeat. They must begin a potential survey to find the appropriate population to the resources, economy and culture in the cities. The tax credits for activities consistent with the environment, financial support of these activities, precise programs, laws and educational programs are necessary for the future movements (Ziyari, 2001). Sustainable city is against modern cities which have the following characteristic; large input versus large output. Sustainable city planners should focus on the creation of cities with less energy and materials input and less waste and pollution output (Turner, 1988). Sustainable city is a city with some economic bases which not only have the least adverse impact on the environment but also are effective on the recovery and quality of the city. The sustainable city is a city where the variety be supported and a clear separation among incomes and social groups does not exist, and all individuals and groups have access to basic services and facilities. Thus sustainable city is a city which in terms of sustainable urban development, economical growth, income and employment can fulfill the needs of its citizens. And it pays attention to health status of the people from environmental and health care perspectives and has no problems of urban air pollution, water and green space pollution, leisure time spending and etc. On the other hand sustainable city is a city which acts coordinated and has citizen participation in solving urban problems, and has sustainable development from the bottom to up for planning and management of urban areas. In general it would be a city for all its citizens (Bahreini, 1997). Source: http://www.google.com Figure 2. Images of sustainable and unsustainable cities The main components of sustainable urban development 1 - Sustainable city: A model of sustainable urban development, land conservation, good infrastructure, a review of the form of city, growth control, energy saving in buildings, balanced density, changes in land uses, preservation of culture and values, and interests in native arts and designs, design on pedestrian base, using vacant land within the city, avoiding from places where natural disasters (floods, earthquakes and landslides) may take place. And there is a sense of community among people and from the management point of view is a decision making and policy-based management and investments policy would be for the development of the city and uncontrolled urban expansion is prevented. 2 - Green city: The overall aim of the green city plan is to solve environmental problems and to improve living conditions through increasing awareness and community

participation in intersectoral collaboration and environmental organizations. Green city is a city in which people have a sense of responsibility and by collaborating with various organizations cause urban sustainability in the cities. 3 - Sustainable Ecopolis: The concept of sustainable Ecopolis relies on the normal relation of the city development with its natural substrate, in the sense that urban development of the city, essentially depends on its natural life. The city is determined based on the natural bounds in a particular geographic area and actually makes some kind of organic community. 4 - Sustainable economy of the city: generally sustainable economy in a region is based on three principles: According to Paul Hockney a sustainable economy must first "be a regenerative economy", it means to restore the social and environmental damages of the past, and to prevent new problems to occur. Second, "must be humanity economy", it means that needs of human must be provided and to provide meaningful job with a reasonable wage for the public. Third "must be a local economy", which means that it must focus on local control, local investment, local ownership and etc. And to support the industries which have roots in culture and also should not deny import industries (Bahreini, 2001). 5 Democracy of sustainable city: one of the basic issues in the field of urban sustainability is citizen participation which requires participation of citizens in all urban affairs and planning's. Therefore preservation and protection of the environment requires a public participation at all levels of decision-making and planning (Momeni, 2002). Dimensions of sustainable development 1 - Ecological Sustainability: It means to maintain the basic resources at a level that does not foreclose future options, or to maintain and upgrade the capacity and resilience of ecosystem through reducing the use of energy resources, reducing the volume of wastes, pollution and their recycling and empowerment of useful technologies. 2 - Economic sustainability: focuses on maintaining and improving economic conditions. Such as formal and non-formal components employment, unemployment, levels of resource rent, equal distribution levels and maintaining in the local and global economy levels. Efficient resource allocation and practical management of current resource investments ensure this issue. 3 - Social sustainability: Social sustainability means sustaining human a civilization which has witnessed a fair distribution between the rich and the poor, and improved quality of life is its result. Reducing social stress, dealing with social conditions, equality for disables, environmental awareness and education, health care and shelter for all, partnership and... are the important factors of this dimension. 4 - Cultural Sustainability: Individual and social attitudes and beliefs in relation to environmental sustainability values are expressed in stability of values and attitudes. 5 - Spatial stability: it is distribution of urban and rural settlements, and activities with emphasis on the decentralization of metropolitan cities, decentralized industrialization, non-farm rural employment and etc. 6 - Institutional sustainability: this is the continued provision of financial requires, the ability to long-term organizations, cooperation between institutions and organizations which is as a prerequisite for the previous dimensions (Hekmatnia, 2003). Strategies and the role of urban planners for sustainable development 1 - On international scale: the research of sustainable urban development represents the necessity of international communication; also this scale should fulfill the needs for social justice and human rights, environmental facilities to provide basic human needs. 2 - National Scale: According to Leman key elements of sustainable urban development on a national scale are: Conservation of non-renewable resources, land use policy, the establishment of an efficient public transport system and the protection of coastal areas. 3 - On local scale: Major issues and solutions for sustainable urban development is done on a local scale and it is because of seriousness of these problems and the environmental crisis at the local scale. We can mention some of steps toward this objective as experiences of some countries in transportation and traffic issues. Public participation in land use planning is of the most important and effective ways which can be mentioned at the local level. Strategies for sustainable urban development World Environment and Development Commission, provide the following necessary principles and strategies for a sustainable city: 1- Increasing economic and social opportunities in a way that covers urban residents. 2 Reducing the role of energy in urban growth 3 - Reducing the usage of water, land and other resources which are needed for such an urban growth4 - Minimizing the amount of garbage and waste and maximizing recycling of produced waste. 5 - Creating a management system with enough power to achieve economical-social and environmental goals. 6 - Pushing urban technology toward sustainable development goals. 7 - Strengthening the power of urban areas to prevent or respond to threats and economical - social and environmental objectives which are occurring as a result of natural or man factors. (Ardeshiri, 2000). Generally sustainable development needs the following requirements: 1 Existence of a political system that to provide security for their citizens allows them to participate in decision-making. 2 - Existence of an economic system that would resolve the tensions of unevenly development.

3 - Existence of a production system that is committed to protecting the environment, and recognizes environment as the main factor for development. 4 - Existence of a system and technical knowledge that creates stabile patterns. 5 - Existence of a flexible management system that has self-modifying capacity (Jenifera, 2008). CONCLUSION The growth of modern cities is such that it is unprecedented in the history of urbanization. Parallel to the growth the urban environmental problems have also been increased. Unfortunately, there is not much time to modify past failures and improve the status quo, and ensure the protection of the environment. Consequently it is important to pay attention to the development of sustainable urban planning and its role in urban management issues is an objective that requires a new approach to urban planning. And this will not be achieved without participation of citizens and participatory plans (Jelodarlo, p 5). Urban planners and administrators should take a systematic look to the problems of the cities, since many problems which occur in the city has roots in out of the city. The city needs to be observed in a larger scale that is in relation with national and regional levels, and policies and programs of it be implemented with such an understanding. In fact if such hierarchical order would be in the codification of planning most of urban problems will be solved. Urban development without the collaborative planning process will not be possible. The concept of community participation through civil rule, which requires the participation of all stakeholders, is increasingly considered as a strategy for urban changes. Implementation of population regulation policies is requirement of urban management. Technical combination of urban planning views with the human dimension, will lead the city to sustainable human development. Empowerment of vulnerable groups in society should be placed at the top of managers and decision-makers program. Facility distribution must be in a way that municipal services are devoted to citizens, especially to the poor to mitigate the social and economic inequalities. In fact, the city will be sustainable and habitable when be habitable from environmental point of view (clean air, clean water, land and clean groundwater, etc). Reducing reliance on private cars, increasing compaction density, application combinations, conservation and saving of natural resources, reducing resource consumption and pollution production in the city and its related region, improving livability of urban communities and citizens participation in local affairs, strengthening the stability of the economic system in city, reforming and administrative systems are some of the ways that urban planners and decision makers must do in collaboration with public and private sectors to get to the steady utopia. 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