Development patterns in cities vary from country to country. Smart growth is a “concept (that) calls for focusing future growth on existing built-up areas to establish a compact, efficient, and environmentally sensitive pattern of urban development that provides people with various transportation systems and a range of housing and employment choices” (Arku 2009). European cities tend to be more compact and implement smart growth tactics for new developments, while “American cities are particularly wasteful of land and resources with very few of them showing much sense of restraint in their sprawling growth” (Moran 2008, 309).
Developing countries, such as those in Africa, are experiencing dramatic increases in population of urban areas without much, if any, restraint on sprawl (Moran 2008). There are many social and environmental consequences that occur when urban areas expand outward with unregulated speed. One example of a consequence of this type of growth can be found in “…sub-Saharan Africa (where) more than seven in ten urban dwellers live in a slum lacking basic services such as water and sanitation…” (Moran 2008, 307). Increases in pollution, resource depletion, energy use, and decreases in the quality of life are other effects of urban sprawl. The rate at which some African cities are growing, makes implementing smart growth tactics difficult. For example, the city of Cairo “doubled in size in less than five years” (Arku 2009, 261). As urban populations grow, it is undeniably imperative that governments begin applying smart growth techniques, such as infill, which develops degraded areas within the city, and increasing public transportation, jobs and housing in downtown or core areas. It is also necessary that the governments of these areas provide the basic services, such as clean drinking water and sanitation.
Since many developing countries are seeing explosive growth in their urban areas, they must begin regulating the growth of these cities immediately to combat the subsequent social and environmental consequences. By increasing the quality of life, health, and services for the urban dwellers, these cities may see a large expansion in economic productivity and an increase in stability of the population as life expectancy rises.
References:
Arku, Goodwin. 2009. Rapidly Growing African Cities Need to Adopt Smart Growth Policies to Solve Urban Development Concerns. Urban Forum 20, no. 3: 253-270. http://search.ebscohost.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=43169103&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live (accessed October 26, 2009)
Moran, Emilio F. 2008. Human Adaptability an Introduction to Ecological Anthropology. 3rd ed. New York: Westview.
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It truly is sad to see that here in America we waste so much. We eat more, use more, and waste more. So many countries are literally dying for just a drop of what we have here. And instead of sharing, we waste more. We could help so many countries by expanding our resources to third world countries. If you came up with a plan, I would help you.
ReplyDeleteI like your topic and the way you constructed your summary.
I agree that smart city planning is necessary for healthy survival of the city and it's population. Being wasteful doesn't gain anything. I think America is too lazy to do proper city planning so we can use less land. It makes sense that Europe is much more efficient in smart city planning. We have the money and the freedom to do what is necessary and smart; we just don't have the motivation.
ReplyDeleteSmart growth is a great idea for all governments. The governments in Africa, as well as other countries, do need to start planning ahead of time for their cities. However, I feel that the initial cost for implementing mass transportation and creating jobs may be a little costly for some cities. These governments really need to work together in developing sustainable cities.
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