What Makes a Sustainable City?

Abstract

The majority of the world is now urban.
 Cities are attracting people because they are centers for
 economic activity and can offer a higher quality of life:
 there are more jobs, more services available, transport
 options to move within the city, trade, knowledge exchange,
 and connections to other cities and countries. As a result,
 in 2050, two-thirds of the world population is expected to
 live in cities. Cities around the world are implementing
 innovative ideas to efficiently manage urbanization. They
 are facing challenges head on and placing themselves on a
 path toward sustainability. Increasingly, city governments
 are becoming empowered administratively and financially to
 be able to serve their growing populations, offering good
 public transport options, access to clean water, effective
 waste management, and other essential basic services. This
 booklet of case studies showcases cities in developing
 countries that are implementing bold ideas with the
 objective of achieving environmental, economic and social
 sustainability. In all the stories included, the World Bank
 Group has been able to work alongside the cities to help
 them meet their goals by offering a number of services.
 These case studies show what a wide variety of cities have
 achieved in this endeavor, with clear and measurable
 results. Cities have responded to the new challenges and
 opportunities of rapid urbanization by spurring innovation
 to improve services, create jobs, and enhance livability for
 future generations.