The human population has been growing steadily over time; a trend that has had an increasing pressure on global resources. The population is predicted to grow further, particularly, in urban areas. According to the UN Habitat more than half of the global population now resides in cities (UN Habitat, 2014). By 2050, the urban dwellers are projected to make up over 70 per cent of the global population. Therefore, urban areas provide an important locale for addressing the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental challenges in order to capitalize on urban opportunities while mitigating the risks (UN Habitat, 2013). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were affirmed in September 2015 during the 2015 United Nations General Assembly as a universal normative development blueprint for all members ascribed to the UN Charter. Of the 17 SDGs, Goal 11 is wholly dedicated to 'Sustainable Cities and Communities: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable'. The 'urban goal' has ten attendant targets. These targets refine the focus on key areas that need urgent attention in addressing urbanization challenges worldwide. It is in these areas where policy makers assert that the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities. The identification of an urban goal is an acknowledgement that 'the current model of urbanization is unsustainable in many respects' (UN Habitat, 2016). Habitat III is the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development to take place in Quito, Ecuador from 17 to 20 October 2016. The outcome of Habitat III could be the tenet to promote all levels of human settlements including small rural communities, villages, market towns, intermediate cities and metropolises for sustainable demographic and economic. According to the UN Habitat, rethinking the Urban Agenda is: • Embracing urbanization at all levels of human settlements, more appropriate policies can embrace urbanization across physical space, bridging urban, peri-urban and rural areas and assist governments in addressing challenges through national and local development policy frameworks. • Integrating equity to the development agenda. Equity becomes an issue of social justice, ensures access to the public sphere, extends opportunities and increases the commons. Prologue Environment and Urbanization AsiA 7(2) x-xii 2016 National institute of Urban Affairs (NiUA) sAGE Publications sagepub.in/home.nav

No abstract

No abstract