What are the essentials for urban development? First, we need to distinguish between “urban” and “urbanized”. In most cases, the term “urban” refers to development that is done on a small scale. It may not involve some degree of planning, but it is done by changing the current use of land (as in “urban expansion”) or creating new ground (as in “urban consolidation”). On the other hand, “urban” is used to describe large-scale Urban Development processes that have already taken place. These include development that is done on a sustainable basis, usually resulting from rapid demographic expansion.
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Achieve Greater Economic Growth
How can improving the “essentials” for urban development help achieve greater economic growth? First, planning is necessary for establishing priorities and creating a workable plan. This planning must provide a detailed description of the current and future conditions in the targeted urban areas and provide sufficient detail for local governments and private developers to determine how to address these conditions. For example, although all planning should take into account the basic needs of inhabitants living in the urban areas, the process needs to be able to specify the types of services that residents will want or need, what kind of infrastructure they will require, and how they will interact with surrounding communities and their institutions.
Urban Planning
Urban planning is also necessary to determine how to finance such projects. Many people think of “fiscal policy” when they hear the word ” Urban Development”. But the essential ingredients for successful city planning are public involvement and financial management by the local government, which includes various agencies and organizations.
Professional oversight is also at all levels, including governmental budgeting, development planning, environmental review, and negotiations with individual project partners. Urban planners should not be seen as “top-down” planners who are micromanaging; rather, urban planners are concerned with providing an integrated view of development and helping residents understand the connection between what they want and what the city can deliver. Allocating development funding may be seen as daunting to residents, but effective city planning considers all the needs and priorities of the targeted population.
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Environmental Damage
The root causes of most urban resilience problems result from long-term climate change and environmental damage, both of which pose tremendous risks for people in the cities. Accelerating climate change brought on by greenhouse gas emissions is one of the largest threats to human health and the environment. Rapid urbanization combined with unchecked growth and poor planning has made it possible for some cities to house many people without adequate planning for climate change adaptation. When climate change adaptation becomes a priority, the impact on human health and ecosystems becomes dire. Even those who remain focused on the present will experience adverse effects in the future, even if they live in a climate-proof city.
Resilience can also be built on environmental quality, which has become a key factor in addressing the increasing issue of climate change in cities. Rising temperatures, excessive heat, and water scarcity pose a serious threat to the lives and livelihoods of the urban populations. As a result, effective measures must be taken to decrease or halt global warming before it causes irreversible damage. The key factors for sustainable development are increased efficiency in energy consumption and reduced use of non-renewable resources such as non-biodegradable wastes and polluting chemicals.
Consideration ForSustainable Development
Another important consideration for sustainable development in cities is enhancing the population’s resilience against natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. This can be achieved by building walls that protect vulnerable urban areas. Urban planners also look into food insecurity, sanitation, and basic health care, all of which contribute to the health and prosperity of city residents. They also support family-based and community-based health programs and infrastructure development to promote good nutrition and physical fitness.
Urban planners must pay attention to changing climate conditions and adaptation strategies that adapt to changing conditions. They integrate traditional land management practices with climate change adaptation strategies. The recent example of the shift in perspective on climate change by the WHO and UNICEF is a pointer to the necessity for cities to look into their future climate-smartness strategy and take effective steps to mitigate against climate change. Urbanization and development trends in developing countries have led to rapid changes in the lifestyle patterns of the individuals living there. Fast urbanization has resulted in poor health and nutrition, limited space, cramped spaces, and inadequate access to necessities. These conditions have been accompanied by major health risks like obesity, diabetes, and respiratory problems, all expected to escalate due to climate change.
Conclusion;
Urbanization, rapid urbanization processes, and other significant societal changes have resulted in a rise in the number of people living in poverty in the developing world. In such circumstances, the role of civil society organizations and local governments in ensuring environmental sustainability is becoming more important. Effective involvement of civil society and active engagement of local governments by both parties to ecological sustainability challenges are required for sustainable development. However, national governments should support the efforts of local governments at the neighbourhood level to build capacity in these areas through sustainable housing strategies and action plans.
