The United States hosted World Habitat Day for the first time this year. At the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., leading Obama administration officials, including Shaun Donovan, Secretary Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Melody Barnes, Director, Domestic Policy Counsel, and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, along with Judith Rodin, head of the Rockefeller Foundation, welcomed Dr. Anna Tibaijuka of UN-HABITAT and World Habitat Award winners from around the globe.
In her opening remarks, Rodin noted that “it’s an inescapable fact of life — life in the 21st century will be markedly more urban.” In framing the meeting, Rodin identified key urban issues as the worldwide growth of slums and overburdened infrastructure that will “leave millions exposed to environmental and health threats.” However, Rodin also believes cities already act as the real field labs for finding solutions to urban problems. Additionally, urban problems can also only be solved through “innovative, collaborative approaches.” Rodin asked: “Will we shape the forces driving people to cities or let these forces drive us?”
Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., said we need “cities that strengthen societies.” Rice noted that 2/3 of the world’s population resides in cities. Almost one billion people worldwide now live in slums. Rice said we are in danger of having global “sprawl and slums instead of shared prosperity.” Better urban planning strategies are key to dealing with the challenges of globalization, urbanization, and environmental degradation. Cities, Rice added, have been “centers of diversity and tolerance” thoughout history and work needs to be done to ensure they remain the high point of civilization.
Melody Barnes, Director, Domestic Policy Counsel, introduced a video message delivered to the crowd by President Obama, and noted that Obama has articulated a new bold vision for urban centers, created a new White House Office of Urban Affairs, and is undertaking the first comprehensive review of the U.S. government’s approach to cities in over 30 years. Obama highlighted the importance of tackling urban problems worldwide and called for new partnerships focused on cities. Barnes said: “Cities need a federal government that knows the old ways just won’t do.” Barnes said much of her work in the comprehensive government review of urban policy is to find the “best local ideas and bring them to the national level,” adding that “the best solutions are often local.” Barnes also emphasized an “evidence-based approach”, the need for eliminating what doesn’t work, and creating more public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, Director, UN-HABITAT, delivered a message from UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon who said “the major challenges of the 21st century relate to the growth of cities, expansion of the informal sector, and climate change. Urban sprawl and unplanned development are just two of the most visible signs of these challenges and the vulnerability of people in many areas.” In many developing countries, Moon noted that there is a growing divide between gated, secure communities and sprawling slums. Cities now exhibit stark contrasts. Moon thinks planning is “at the head” of sustainable urban development, and the urban poor must be brought into the process. “No one can be excluded, especially the poor, on an increasingly urban planet.”
Tibaijuka added that planning for an urban future has never been more urgent. There are now 3.5 billion city dwellers and there will be 6 billion by 2050. “Regrettably, most urban growth takes place in the worst urban slums.” Population growth is overwhelming the ability of cities to scale up services, including health, educational, and transportation services.
“After HIV/AIDS, growing cities are the greatest challenge facing Africa.” Furthermore, Tibaijuka thought this urban gap between “haves and have-nots” is quickly becoming politically destabilizing.
“Planning is a result of the American progressive movement,” Tibaijuka argued. Planning was based in ideas about good governance, reducing corruption, and including more people in decisions about the communities in which they live. “It’s about fairness.” Over 50 years, planning has matured and is now a critical function in all cities. The vision and public participation components of planning, practices that have now spread around the world, came out of this progressive U.S. movement. Public participation remains crucial: “Plan with the people or perish.” (read her full remarks)
Shaun Donovan, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), wants communties rooted in safe, affordable housing. Donovan said the world is facing the largest wave of urban growth in history. In the U.S., 100 metro areas contain 60 percent of the U.S. population and account for 75 percent of economic activity. Furthermore, the U.S. population is expected to grow by 50 percent by 2050. Donovan said the U.S. urban development agenda was tied to clean energy. Cities and housing contribute a major share of U.S. CO2 emissions. Through the growth of clean energy jobs, “we can drive down poverty while also reducing C02 emissions,” Donovan said.
In the recent economic recovery package, the Obama administration alloted USD 16 billion for green buildings and retrofits. The new Sustainable Communities partnership between HUD, EPA, and Department of Transportation, also has USD 140 million that will be given to localities for efforts to integrate transportation, housing, and environmental innovations. Donovan argued that “green infrastructure can restore communities and create economic development.”
Jon Bon Jovi spoke about his foundation’s work to build inner-city housing for the homeless, and advised organizations to look for “unconventional partners.” Jonathan Reckford, head of Habitat for Humanity International, introduced a Chicago project called “Digital Urban Planners,” in which 60 high school students created plans for their community, integrating ideas about parks and public art works. One high school student in Chicago asked: “How does art inspire community?” and thinks art can give community ownership. The American Planning Association (APA) was also highlighted as a key partner in this year’s World Habitat Day.
The city of Seoul, South Korea won a special citation award for its Cheongyecheon Canal project, which restored a degraded canal and turned it into a destination in the heart of the city (see earlier post and learn more about this ASLA-award winning project).
