Sustainable
Cities.
Click on highlighted words for definitions:
By the year 2010, it is predicted that 11 of the 15 worlds Mega-cities will belong to APEC economies
The world is witnessing an urban revolution as people worldwide migrate from rural areas to urban centers. In some cases migration results in the development of mega-cities; large urban areas that may or may not be identified by the number of "towns" developing around the city's perimeter or by the number of people concentrated within the city. Calculating the density of people living in large urban areas is often inconclusive, as it does not take into account the impact urbanisation has on the quality of infrastructure, or how it threatens ecological, economic and environmental sustainability.
By the year 2000 APEC's 18 member economies are expected to dominate world trade by 70%. By 2010, 11 of the world's 15 mega-cities, are anticipated to belong to APEC economies. If such predictions become reality, then the responsibility of the APEC economies is to promote sustainable development and create a market for environmental technology that will sustain the cities created through and around trade.
Being that 1997 is Canada's Year of Asia Pacific, the APEC Environmental Ministerial Meeting on Sustainable Development , Canada has been granted the opportunity to promote consideration for environmental concerns. Of the issues to be raised are the following:the reduction of pollution having a detrimental effect on the national and global environment;
the promotion of regional sustainable development in areas critical to the achievement of Canadian goals which include jobs, and:
the creation of markets for environmental technology.APEC is uniquely positioned to implement standards that would target sustainable cities. Within this understanding, APEC proposed 14 'deliverables':
1. ) To double the number of APEC Local Agenda Cities by 2003.Launched in 1992, the Local Agenda 21 Cities initiative presents a framework for engaging regional authorities in collaboration with residents and local organisations to clean up industrial practices and protect the ecosystem.2. )To use the past and effective experiences of APEC member economies to develop guidelines for a sustainable framework.
3. ) To promote awareness and understanding for sustainable urbanisation.
4. ) To share information and ideas on sustainable urbanisation by using example "success stories" from APEC economies as guidelines.
5. ) to establish an APEC Sustainable Cities Capacity Building Network.A network of institutions, agencies an organisations that would promote the development, distribution and use of sustainable building tools.
6. ) Create a "Clean Cities" website to facilitate the flow of information.
7. ) To examine and articulate approaches to:
a. ) To examine and consider new ways to finance potential sustainable city projects,
b. ) to finance such initiative as, sustainable building planning, design, construction and operation.8. ) To examine available economic instruments to strengthen the sustainability of cities.
9. ) To explore options that already exist in environmental and economic guidelines that are designed to strengthen sustainability practices.
10. ) Examine what barriers exist to the trading of environmental technology and how to facilitate the liberalisation of such technologies in these areas.
11. ) To develop a non-building APEC code of conduct whose aim it is to guide investment and sustainable urbanisation initiatives.
12. ) To more directly involve the people in efforts to ensure the sustainability of APEC cities.
13. ) To incorporate all sectors of the population, including the disadvantaged and poor into the productive process of ensuring a regional and urban sustainability.
14. ) To promote cooperation in reducing the emission of lead and other vehicular gasses in APEC economies.Through their participation, youth will be best qualified to ensure a sustainable future. A common error that many commit, is to assume that humankind is separate of the environment in which they live. To place humanity outside of this reality is dangerous. By taking assertive action, youth can effectively sculpture the way humanity relates to the environment by modifying people's perception of human growth and economic development. Similar the process of consensus followed by Ministers, youth can discuss relevant issues before considering the most logic action to take directed toward the resolution of that particular issue, and present it to an audience on the web.
Through the sharing of ideas and strengthening of international relationships, youth will play an important correspondent role in sustaining environmentally secure cities.
By getting involved in regional and international governmental and non-governmental organisations that promote unilateral co-operation and the sharing of information and technology, youth can play an important role in environmental sustainability that will span a lifetime.
© 1997 - TG Magazine / The Students Commission
© 1997 le magazine TG / la Commission des
étudiants