Habitat III Regional Report Arab Region: Towards inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Arab Cities
Maren Larsen, Mona Serageldin, François Vigier, and Barbara Summers
Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (HABITAT III), 2017
From 1970 to 2010, the urban population in Arab countries grew by more than four times, and is expected to double by 2050. Like other regions, the Arab region is witnessing the transformative force of urbanization and its ensuing opportunities and challenges. As the region urbanizes rapidly, many Arab countries have made significant efforts to promote sustainable urban development; foster urban economic growth; improve urban infrastructure and the provision of basic urban services; educate youth; and provide shelter for urban dwellers. Yet, rapid urban growth in the region has also been accompanied by critical urban challenges. The Regional Report for Arab States identifies many of these challenges, including lack of decent employment, expansion of slums and informal settlements, inadequate provision of basic urban services, social inequity and exclusion, insufficient urban governance capacity and, shortfalls of municipal finance resources. In addition, many Arab cities face a wide variety of pressing environmental challenges, ranging from climate change and air pollution to sustainable water management and solid waste disposal. ...