Learning from the best: new paradigms for sustainable development and cooperation

Abstract

The habitat II Conference -The City Summit-held in Istanbul (Turkey) in June 1996 adopted the Habitat Agenda -a Global Plan of Action to improve living conditions on a sustainable basis for all people in a rapidly urbanising world -, The Conference broke new gro und on two fronts: (1) in brokering partnerships between governments at all levels and all major groups of civil society; and (2) in recognising the critical contribution of cities and civic society in achieving the twin goals of shelter for all and sustainable human settlements. Cities are already becoming as important if not more important than nations as front-line actors in global trade and investment. As centres of production and consumption, they are the engines of economic growth and development. They are also centres of excellence in education, research and development, the application of new technologies, the loci of cultural expression and social vitality. Cities, however, are also plagued by social, economic and environmental problems. Crime, poverty, unemployment, congestion, waste and the degradation of the natural environment are some of the most visible signs of these problems. The Habitat Agenda recognises that these problems are rapidly becoming universal and that they cannot be effectively addressed by governments, cities, communities or the private sector alone. They require partnerships to harness the human, technical and financial resources to devise and implement innovative solutions. They also require a systematic effort for the sharing of knowledge and experiences, expertise and technologies.