Although the United Nations recognizes the benefits of urban development, such as the potential for new forms of social inclusion, it warns at the same time of some imbalances.
Inequality and exclusion are widespread in major cities, often at rates higher than the national average, to the detriment of sustainable development that serves all.
The agency believes that city planning is crucial to prepare for the orderly expansion of cities in order to direct investments, prepare land divisions and install basic infrastructure before construction.
Experts warn that rehabilitating improvised areas is complex and much more expensive.
The response to the increase in urban population appears to lead either to a long process of capacity building to coordinate goals and cooperate effectively, or a tendency to address the urgent need through infrastructure development without taking the former into account.
For this reason, the United Nations is calling for financing a sustainable urban future for all.
At the same time, it also encourages cities to innovate and experiment, as well as learn from each other to accelerate this transformation, for example, through initiatives such as so-called “twin cities” or city networks.
Statistics confirm the unequal population balance between the countryside and the city.
Until 2009, more people lived outside urban areas than inside them, however, about 55 percent of the world’s population currently lives in towns and cities, and the level of urbanization is expected to reach nearly 70 percent by 2050. .
Most of this population growth will occur in Asia and Africa, especially China, India and Nigeria, where fertility rates remain high.
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