For the first time in history, more people are living in cities than in rural areas. The UN forecasts that today’s urban population of 3.2 billion will rise to nearly 5 billion by 2030, when three out of five people will live in cities. Although most of the growth will be in “small” cities of 1-2 million inhabitants, there are also the “Megacities” – metropolitan areas with over 10 million.
How to spot a megacity
The Commonwealth’s megacities are Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata (India); Karachi (Pakistan); Dhaka, (Bangladesh); Lagos (Nigeria); and London (UK). Some of these are growing at 4-5 per cent annually. Nine new megacities are emerging in India and Pakistan.
Built environment
This is a huge human development challenge. The world’s slum dwellers increase in number by 25 million a year: people with little or no access to proper sanitation, education, healthcare, or the formal economy. In the longer term the land and water use, enegy efficiency and carbon footprint of these settlements will determine whether humankind can develop sustainably – or will “reap the whirlwind” of extreme climate change. Today, cities are responsible for three quarters of greenhouse gas emmissions.
According to Nicky Gavron, former Deputy Mayor of London, “Leadership from national governments is crucial in tackling climate change, but when it comes to practical action on the ground, cities are centre stage.”
Visionaries
In November 2008, 150 leaders from government, civil society and business met at Xochitla Ecological Park, Tepotzotlan (Mexico) to discuss the issue. The Commonwealth Foundation funded NGO leaders from India, Pakistan and Nigeria to take part. Using Mexico City as an example, participants explored the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid urbanisation, and discovered what kind of leadership skills are needed to bring about sustainable solutions.
LEAD International, the organisers, have been training mid-career professionals since the Rio Earth Summit of 1992. “You can always tell when there’s a cadre of LEAD people in an organisation,” says Maurice Strong, Undersecretary General at the United Nations. “It changes that organisation. It gives it a new life, new energy and frankly, new relevance.”
Rt Hon Michael Meacher MP, the former UK Minister of the Environment agrees: “We need leaders who can inspire people; who are well informed on the issues; who are committed and motivated. LEAD is exactly the right kind of organisation.”