A SEMINAR REPORT FROM THE EAST-WEST CENTER Changing Cities Linking Global Knowledge to Local Action Asia-Pacific-U.S. URBAN DIALOGUE A SEMINAR REPORT FROM THE EAST-WEST CENTER Changing Cities Linking Global Knowledge to Local Action A seminar co-convened by the East-West Center and the Penn Institute for Urban Research, University of Pennsylvania Hawai‘i Imin International Conference Center East-West Center Honolulu, Hawai‘i USA 26–28 September 2011 A summary report edited by Meril Dobrin Fujiki Seminars Development Coordinator, East-West Center Seminars Rebecka Arbin East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellow, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Asia-Pacific-U.S. URBAN DIALOGUE The Asia-Pacific-U.S. Urban Dialogue examines the complex human costs of urbanization and effective responses to the unprecedented political, economic, socio-cultural, ecological, and physical transformations taking place in the metropolitan areas of Asia, the Pacific, and the United States. The program’s distinctive approach includes: • Small roundtable dialogues that encourage lively and frank peer-to- peer exchanges on current trends, key issues, and best policy options for managing the urban transition • A diverse, high-level group of city leaders, policymakers, urban planners, civil society and business leaders, experts and scholars, who are invited to share their ideas, experiences, and strategic visions for creating more liveable cities of the future • Interdisciplinary, multicountry examination of critical concerns and innovative solutions that provide participants with a common understanding of urban challenges faced across Asia and in the West • Three-day seminar on the relaxed and informal campus of the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, USA To date, three seminars have been organized: Changing Cities: Linking Global Knowledge to Local Action examined ways to more effectively disseminate global knowledge on best practices aimed at driving resilient and inclusive urban development. September 2011 Urbanization Policy in an Uncertain Economy explored the impacts of complex urbanization policies in times of local and global economic uncertainty. March 2010 The Urban Transformation in Asia: Policy Implications of Decentralization investigated urban governance challenges related to decentralization policies, strategies, and institutional frameworks. August 2008 For information about the program, please see our website or contact us via email: EastWestCenter.org/urbandialogue [email protected] East-West Center Seminar Reports reflect the diverse views of the participants and do not necessarily represent the views of the East-West Center. The price per print copy is $10.00 plus shipping. The report is also available as a free PDF on the East-West Center website. For information on ordering print copies, for permissions, or for other inquiries regarding the report please contact: Publication Sales Office 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96848-1601 Tel.: 808.944.7145 Fax: 808.944.7376 [email protected] EastWestCenter.org/Publications ©East-West Center 2012 TABLE OF CONTENts Preface i Introduction to the Seminar iii Overview Changing Cities: Challenges and Opportunities for the 21st Century 1 Session I Urban Planning and Competing Land Uses 11 Session II Infrastructure Innovations in Energy and Transportation 19 Session III Promising Practices of Inclusive Economic Growth 27 Session IV The Urban Water Cycle and Public Health 35 Session V Governance and Management: Sharing, Adapting, and Implementing Global Knowledge and Emerging Best Practices 45 Session VI Innovations in Applied Technologies 53 Insights Sharing and Applying Knowledge of Promising and Innovative Practices 59 Issues Framing a Research and Action Agenda to Promote More Effective Knowledge Exchange 63 Pre-Seminar Questionnaire Participants’ Responses 67 Acknowledgments 77 Seminar Participants’ Biographical Notes 81 Suggested Readings 105 i Preface For over fifty years, the East- One of the most dramatic demographic trends in the contemporary Asia Pacific region is the rapid growth of urban areas. Urban environments provide enormous West Center has brought social opportunities and economic efficiencies. But the speed of urbanization together policymakers and creates severe strains on Asia’s urban administrative systems as they strive to scholars from the United respond to new political, economic, social, and environmental challenges. Often fragmented or overlapping governance structures have greatly complicated these States and Asia to exchange responses. views on issues of mutual For over fifty years, the East-West Center has brought together policymakers concern, develop a common and scholars from the United States, Asia, and the Pacific to develop a common understanding, and discuss understanding of issues of mutual concern and to exchange views and experiences for the purpose of strengthening policy responses. In September 2011, the Center policy options convened its third seminar of city mayors and other high-level government leaders, planning officials, and urban specialists to discuss the growing challenges to urban governance. The seminar examined the process of knowledge transfer between and among policymakers, practitioners, and experts as a critical tool for adapting innovations and promising practices in sustainable urban development. This report, Changing Cities: Linking Global Knowledge to Local Action, provides a summary of the group’s discussions. The report consists of the views of individual participants, but to facilitate uninhibited discussion, it adheres to the Chatham House Rule in not attributing these to particular contributors. We present the report as both a record of a rich seminar and to help inform a broader public of the participants’ views. The East-West Center intends to convene future activities around other issues associated with urbanization trends. Charles E. Morrison President East-West Center iii INTROductION TO THE SEMINAR The Rapid Growth of Cities Across the world a massive demographic shift is underway. For the first time in human history, more people now live in cities than in rural areas. In the next 20 years, the world’s population will grow from 7 billion to more than 8 billion people. The urban population will grow even faster, from 3.5 billion to 5 billion. Complex demographic and economic trends are propelling people into this new urbanized world, where hundreds of cities will be built and expanded to accommodate migration and growth—particularly in Asia. The rapid transformation of cities and towns into massive urban megaregions has created unprecedented political, economic, socio-cultural, ecological, and physical changes. National and local governments, the private sector, and civil society are today facing a sense of urgency as they work to adapt, innovate, and prepare to accommodate the future billions in sustainable, efficient, and inclusive cities that can foster productivity and continued economic growth. This surge in urbanization is forcing a rethinking of the relationship between national and local governments and creating new power centers outside of the traditional political hierarchy. The rapid growth of megacities and mid-size cities has strained existing urban administrative systems, which are struggling to respond to new challenges in virtually every aspect of human organization. Govern ment, civil society, and corporations must all take a new look at urban planning strategies, infrastructure, lifestyles, welfare needs, employment, housing, transportation, health care, food, shelter, and basic social interactions. They must learn to more effectively work collaboratively and adapt and innovate to solve the problems of today while simultaneously preparing for future growth. Their achievements will largely define the 21st century. The Need for Cooperation and Mutual Learning Knowledge Dissemination as a Critical Tool for Managing Urban Development through Innovation and Best Practice The creation of more resilient and inclusive urban environments over the next century will require the widespread dissemination and adaptation of good practice, innovative policy options, and a growing stock of knowledge that has already appeared or is near emergence. iv Changing Cities: Linking Global Knowledge to Local Action There has already been a surge of creative strategies to deal with the consequences of rapid metropolitan development. Forced to find ways to make things work, many cities and their partners, including grassroots, corporate, and philanthropic organizations, have been resourceful in meeting increased urban service demand, managing growth, and improving municipal governance. These approaches in clude the implementation of bus rapid transit systems, mapping informal settle ments through GIS systems, creating low-cost waste disposal, instituting innovative mechanisms to support inclusive governance, and crafting effective public-private partnerships. Recognizing the urgent need to accelerate cooperation and mutual learning among cities, many local, national, and international city-based associations are focusing on new means to facilitate knowledge exchange. In addition, grassroots groups, often funded by international foundations, are developing programs to enhance urban living, especially in informal settlements. Global private corporations, which see cities as a new customer class, are finding novel applications for advanced technologies in information