Population Growth and Urbanization in Africa

This study examined the effect of population growth and urbanization on the environment (carbon dioxide emissions) for 37 sub Saharan African countries based on 1980-2010 annual data. Using the Pooled Mean Group estimation technique, the findings of the study show that affluence and industrialization have negative effect on the environment (increases carbon dioxide emissions) while urbanization does not have a significant effect on carbon dioxide emissions. The population variable is significant only in the long run but insignificant in the short run. Also, after controlling for the different age groups, the results show that the more active age group (15-59) is positive and significantly related to carbon dioxide emissions.

Population Growth, Governance and Urban Social Conflicts in Africa

Many African countries are witnessing an increase in social conflicts with negative impacts on their development. Most conflicts are urban centered, with causes rooted in social, economic and political issues and fatalities, property destruction and displacement as outcomes. This chapter asserts that issues of growth and governance are at the heart of conflict, with growth challenging the ability of most governments to deliver services. The chapter undertakes a broad examination of social conflict in the African context with focus on understanding their cause and effects and the role that population growth, urbanization and governance play in country conflict situation. The chapter examined conflict in three countries; Algeria, Kenya and Nigeria, from a macro and micro level, along with the role that population growth, urbanization and governance play. The chapter concludes with findings and recommendations on ways to mitigate conflicts.

Cities in the Gulf

In fast growing cities, such as Dubai, Jeddah and Doha the issue of identity and its implications are increasingly complex and multi-dimensional. Traditionally, people were able to maintain a strong identity in their urban environment because everything was locally influenced, created and managed. In dealing with the question of identity in the present Gulf city, several important concepts are raised; impact of rapid growth and urbanization on the resilient historic centers is one such important issue. This chapter raises and discusses the following question “Will the historic city, the heart of urban life, survive and maintain its place in the emerging global Gulf cities of today and tomorrow?” This study will focus on the three old centers of Dubai, Jeddah and Doha with the aim to explore ways of being undertaken to rediscover their vanishing cultural identities in the mainstream of rapid growth and urbanization that happened since the discovery of oil in the 1950s.

China's Population Aging and New Urbanization

In recent years, fast demographic transition, urbanizationand socio-economic development in China draws attention of the world. The reproduction type of Chinese population has changed from “high rate of birth, high rate of death, and low rate of natural growth” to “low rate of birth, low rate of death, and low rate of natural growth”, which promotes the population transition, bringing the problems of aging of population. In China, the scale of aged population is large, and its developing speed is fast. Along with the increasing of aged population in China, the advantage of labor quantity in China is challenged. China regards new urbanization as the important work content of state in the future for a long time, providing a large opportunity for the study in the field of urbanization. For China, new urbanization plan is just a beginning. The sustainable development of Chinese population and urbanization has important meaning in the world.

Technology and the Urban Future in Developing Countries

During the last century, population growth and rapid urbanization have been phenomenal in the developing world. Such rapid urbanization has created many urban problems on both local and regional levels. Technology has been a driving force for rapid urbanization in developed and developing countries. The main argument of this Chapter is that technology can be the answer to most of the urban problems associated with rapid urbanization in developing countries. In tackling this issue, a qualitative analysis of the literature review about technology and urban change, and a quantitative analysis of urban change patterns and challenges in Africa, as a group sample of the developing world, have been conducted. Then, the research recommends “Urban Decentralization” as a technology-enabled policy necessary for managing the urban future in developing countries. The research recommends “rural urbanization” and “small-size settlements' as necessary approaches for the efficient implementation of the proposed “Urban Decentralization” policy.

Effective Urban Infrastructure Governance in Africa

The main thrust of this chapter is to examine effective urban infrastructure governance in Africa: resolving the wealth-poverty paradox. The chapter is organized into five main sections according to the identified objectives with the introduction: infrastructure deficit and poverty nexus in urban Africa as section one. Section two is the background emphasizing Africa's poverty in wealth paradox. Section three focuses on urban revolution in Africa which is characterized by growing poverty instead of wealth and its implication for resolving infrastructure deficit. The nature of urban infrastructure demand and supply in Africa is the emphasis in section four while section five underlines the strategy for future infrastructure governance in Africa. Effective urban infrastructure governance in Africa is particularly challenging the strategies for dealing with the wealth-poverty nexus.

Population Growth and Water Supply

With recent and expected record-breaking urban population growth in developing countries, African cities ought to undertake or revisit sustainable planning efforts necessary for managing population growth and dealing with rapid urbanization. This chapter examines how African cities are responding and adapting to rapid population growth in the area of water supply using Ghana as a case study. From a macro perspective, the chapter looks at the nature and extent of population growth and water supply in Africa, with a focus on Ghana. At the micro level, an analysis of the water supply chain in Ghanaian cities, focusing on distribution, equity and accessibility is presented. The chapter further presents a discussion on the way forward regarding urban water supply in Ghana in particular and Africa in general. The chapter concludes with key findings and directions for further research, in relation to population growth and urban water supply.

Ecological Influences on the Evolving Planning System in Turkey

Many developing countries' national plans and urbanization policies lack effective measures to address environmental degradation and support the sustainable use of natural resources. Sustainable urban development policies, the most important pillar of socio-economic development, have not been produced and/or integrated to the urban planning system in Turkey. Suggesting that economic growth may be equaled to wealth and welfare is only possible in environments where certain requirements are satisfied. These requirements may be enumerated as not surpassing the natural renovation capacity, minimizing pollution risks, optimal protection and preservation of non-renewable resources, use of natural resources according to protection-utilization principles. This chapter firstly addresses planning tradition in conceptual background, and analyses relationship of this convention with urban development. Secondly and final phase it addresses the ecological influences created by the urban development shaped by urban planning tradition on the environment, and presents suggestions for solution.

Coping with Erratic Water Supply in Small Towns

In Sub-Saharan Africa, artificial water shortages are common due to financial constraints impeding the procurement of adequate equipment to harness water. Most previous studies on variability of water supply in sub-Saharan Africa have largely focused on large urban settlements such as cities and towns. Thus, this chapter therefore presents findings from a study conducted to assess the causes and effects of erratic water supply in Kamwaza Township in Zimbabwe as well as to establish and evaluate coping strategies to the problem of erratic water supply. From the study, it was also observed that erratic water supply has socio-economic effects and these include high incidences of diseases, disruption of service delivery at institutions such as the hospital, clinic and schools and retarded infrastructural development. The study recommends a collaborative approach from all stakeholders in solving the problem of erratic water supply by upgrading the pumping station, repairing leaking pipes, employing people with technical expertise and sinking boreholes.

A Tale of Four Developing Cities

This chapter aims to provide a better understanding on how leveraging relational capital triggers multiple possibilities for the construction of knowledge-based development initiatives in city-regions. This chapter therefore explores key aspects of knowledge-based networks and systems existing in four selected emerging cities and regions. Such aspects are part of a capital systems scope known as the Generic Capital System (GCS). Essentially, the GCS is a tool to benchmark how cities are leveraging their capacity for knowledge-based development. For the purposes of this chapter, some elements of GSC's are emphasized to observe the convergence of learning, economy and urban social network opportunities in four distinct city-regions as a strategy for development. A context-based model like GSC seemingly illustrates how knowledge-based initiatives are making a difference in cities of the developing world building a place and a unique identity in the global arena. In such intriguing context, drivers such as social capital through clustering, networks and other institutional capacities is advanced in this chapter. This perspective is expected to shed some light on how cities and communities can add value to their development strategies.