1SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Cities are the biggest challenge for judging the validity and applicability of concepts of and policies for sustainable development. The importance of cities is based not solely on demographic grounds, but on economic, political and social grounds as well. Cities around the world are growing at a never experienced rate. Over the past thirty years, the number of people living in cities in the developing countries has grew with more than 200%. Explosive urban migration, high birth rates, high unemployment rates, increasing crime, limited or ineffective health and education services, crumbling or missing infrastructure, and unfavourable business climates have created inhospitable cities. The cities suffer from widespread air and water pollution and soil contamination. Health conditions in many cities are often far below decent standards. Even in more flourishing countries, many health disorders are related to the negative effects of the urban environment. Nevertheless, cities will largely influence the social, cultural, economic, and environmental sustainability of our societies and the earth in the future. If citie