June 19, 2008— What makes a livable and vibrant city? Why is it that some cities attract business and innovation where others fail? What can cities do to reduce their environmental footprints and plan ahead for expected population growth? These are some of the hot topics in discussion at the inaugural World Cities Summit in Singapore from June 23 to 25 that brings together mayors from around the world and the heads of the United Nations Environment Program, UN Habitat, the World Green Building Council and the International Association of Public Transport, among others.
For the World Bank - a joint partner in the Summit - cities are important poles of potential economic growth which, if managed carefully, can markedly improve a country’s overall outlook by attracting investment and innovation and connecting people with common interests. Years of working to help Governments and city authorities address the challenges of rapid urbanization have shown that many factors define the success of cities. Among these: a professional and flexible approach to urban planning which takes the views and needs of a city’s citizens into account. Collecting tax revenue fairly and efficiently and channeling it into delivering services and creating public spaces is also key.
As the Bank’s forthcoming World Development Report, Reshaping Economic Geography, shows, cities draw people to areas of higher productivity and provide the conditions for economic growth. But this then creates challenges as cities may not always be able to accommodate the new migrants in search of opportunity or take care of the congestion associated with city growth. As poor rural dwellers move to urban centers, urban poverty may also increase, at least until they are absorbed by expanding labor markets and wider opportunities..
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So, making cities work for the poor means creating cities that are productive and livable for all of its residents. This means prioritizing spending on infrastructure for transport, water and sanitation and solid waste management.
But cities cannot make these investments alone. Mumbai’s urban development plan, for example, requires a capital budget in excess of $60 billion.
Cities need support for infrastructure, in designing reforms to make land and real estate markets more effective, and in developing the types of institutions needed to manage a modern city. Support from higher levels of government, association with the private sector and creative partnerships with other cities around the globe have proved to be essential ingredients for solid city management and urban prosperity.
The challenges of planning ahead for cities that attract as well as care for people will occupy the minds of everyone attending the World Cities Summit.
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