{"id":220861,"date":"2022-10-17T12:00:07","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T11:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=220861"},"modified":"2022-10-15T03:39:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-15T02:39:06","slug":"the-fatal-attraction-of-the-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2022\/10\/the-fatal-attraction-of-the-city\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fatal Attraction of the City"},"content":{"rendered":"

3 Oct 2022 – <\/em>While cities are seen as a symbol of glamour and comfort for a number of their residents, over one billion people continue to live in overcrowded settlements with inadequate housing. And their number is rising every single day.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Most<\/p>\n

Most cities are not able to meet the triple objective of being economically productive, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable, according to the United Nations findings on the occasion of the World Habitat Day. Credit: Bigstock<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Yes, life in urban centres represents plenty of offices, constructions, job opportunities, shops, bars, restaurants, transport systems, and health and education services. So much that 2 of 3 people are forecasted to be concentrated in urban areas by 2050.<\/span><\/p>\n

But this is only one side of the coin.<\/p>\n

The other side is that the current fast and unplanned urbanisation of the world\u2019s population has transformed cities into a major generator of pollution that is increasing and accelerating climate catastrophes.<\/p>\n

Indeed, urban centres are now among the largest greenhouse gas emitters due to the excessive use of cars, trucks, airports, train stations, inadequate buildings, heating and air conditioning, noise and light pollution, housing shortage and too expensive rents.<\/p>\n

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Cities are responsible for 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban emissions.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Cities: 70% of CO2 emissions<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Much so that cities are responsible for 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions, with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban emissions.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s World Habitat Day<\/a> (3 October) looks at the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements, as a consequence of such a rapidly growing urbanisation.<\/p>\n

The Day also seeks to draw attention to the growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by the triple \u2018C\u2019 crises \u2014 COVID-19<\/a>, climate<\/a> and conflict.<\/p>\n

Inequalities<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

On this, it warns that the pandemic and recent conflicts have reversed years of progress made in the fight against poverty<\/a>, resulting in the emergence of newly poor people \u2014 those who would have exited poverty in the absence of the pandemic but remain poor, and those who have fallen into poverty on account of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

In fact, according to the 2022 UN-Habitat\u2019s World Cities Report<\/a>, the number of people affected was between 119 and 124 million in 2020, and between 143 and 163 million in 2021.<\/p>\n

The report underlines that tackling urban poverty<\/a> and inequality<\/a> have become an \u201curgent global priority,\u201d adding that \u201cto prepare urban areas for future catastrophes, we need to start with cities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exclusion<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

This very month also marks the 2022 World Cities Day<\/a> on 31 October.<\/p>\n

The Day warns that too often this is not the shape of urban development. \u201cInequality and exclusion abound, often at rates greater than the national average, at the expense of sustainable development that delivers for all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Urban October<\/a> was launched by UN-Habitat<\/a> in 2014 to emphasise the world\u2019s urban challenges and engage the international community towards the New Urban Agenda.<\/p>\n

See some facts<\/a>:<\/p>\n