UN warns on urban growth risks

By Josephat Siror in Stockholm

UN warns Africa urban development poses a threat to environmental and human health.

Its first global assessment released on Tuesday by United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (UNCB) in Stockholm warns that most of the urban areas have routed its ecosystem due to lack of proper planning and consideration to environmental effects.

Dubbed “The Cities and Biodiversity Outlook” the assessment singles out Africa as the fast growing continent but confronted with weak governance structures, high levels of poverty and low scientific capacity.

This steady growth, according to the assessment, would depend highly on water and food from areas within or in the city.

“This urban expansion will draw heavily on water and other natural resources and will consume prime agricultural land.”

“The way our cities are designed, the way people live in them and the policy decisions of local authorities will define, to a large extent, future global sustainability,” said Braulio Dias, Executive Secretary of the CBD.

He pointed out that the only resources available could be utilised since new innovation and infrastructure might not provide a solution to the exploding population in urban cities.

United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) Executive Director Achim Steiner said the report makes strong argument for greater attention to be paid by urban planners and managers to nature-based assets within the city.

“More than half the global population already resides in cities. This number is projected to increase, with 60 per cent of the population living in urban areas by 2030,” said Unep’s boss. He said sustainable urban development that supports valuable ecosystems presents a major opportunity for improving lives and livelihoods, and accelerating the transition to an inclusive green economy.

The assessment cobbled by 123 global experts comes in the wake of recent warning by former director of Kenya Wildlife Service Julius Kipng’etich that the landmark Nairobi National Park faces imminent threat.

Dr Kipng’etich warned that the park and other ecosystems could be lost due to urban developments.

According to statistics, there are about five million people living in Nairobi alone, with other urban areas expected to experience steady population growth.

Globally, the urban population is set to hit the 4.9 billion mark by year 2030. Lobby groups say there is worrying trend of lack of urban planning and poor control of management.

Experts are warning that urban expansion occurring in areas close to biodiversity ‘hotspots’ and coastal zones, could have negative implications to the environment.