Implementing the Habitat Agenda: in search of urban sustainability

THROUGH MULTIPLE CASE studies, this volume illustrates successful and progressive examples of practices with regard to housing and sustainable urban development. A wide selection of internationally chosen initiatives at local, municipal and central government levels demonstrates the successful implementation of the Habitat Agenda, adopted in the Habitat II conference on human settlements held in Istanbul in 1996. Running in parallel to these case studies is a narrative which describes the context in which the Agenda evolved and the implementation of its strategic objectives: “sustainable urban development”, “shelter for all” and “transfer of experience”. Conceived as a source book on interesting practices, this document targets professionals and decision makers as well as a larger public with concerns about poverty reduction, urban sustainability, good governance and social justice.

The book introduces the context in which the Habitat Agenda and its Global Plan for Action emerged from the Habitat II conference. It describes the contemporary challenges confronted by urban areas in a rapidly changing world, these being of a social, economic or environmental nature.

The second part highlights one of the objectives of the Global Plan for Action, namely, sustainable urban development. It explores the various forms of sustainability, their implication in the city and ways of promoting them. Economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability is about promoting transformations of cities that respond to the present needs without hampering future resources, and the rights for future generations to benefit from pleasant, harmonious and just urban environments. Approaches to reducing urban poverty, social exclusion and inequalities are supported through special concerns for the informal sector, partnerships and participatory governance.

Chapter 3 examines the second objective of the Global Plan for Action, that is, adequate shelter for all. It stresses the close link between adequate housing and citizens’ health and quality of life. Recognized as a right by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the provision of adequate housing has since witnessed changing approaches from governments. The authors support the enabling approach as a step towards providing adequate shelter for all through a variety of housing initiatives from the individual, community or private sectors. Issues of democratic and participatory governance, access to land and security of tenure, services and infrastructure, housing finance and technical assistance are discussed in this chapter.

The final chapter reflects the basis on which the previous principles of the Global Plan for Action were founded, namely, the transfer of experience. Through the principles of decentralization, empowerment, partnership and participation, the ultimate goal is that people, their communities and cities are able to tackle some of the most pressing problems associated with urbanization. The goal of transferability is to learn from successful and innovative approaches and disseminate these as a source of inspiration for further urban interventions. It also stresses the importance of scaling up locally based initiatives.

Throughout the book, 84 case studies illustrate wide-ranging approaches and processes to problem-solving and good governance. These highlight issues adopted by the United Nations for monitoring the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, such as shelter, social development and the eradication of poverty, environmental management, economic development and urban governance. Contact information and sources are available, so that further information about each case study can be found easily.

The book succeeds in stressing the importance of context to successfully implementing change in an urban context. It also demonstrates how people, through bottom-up initiatives, have been effective in putting into practice the recommendations of the Habit