Discussion: Simply Built - a Chance for Our Urban Planet
More than half the population of the world today lives in cities. In India alone, it is estimated that within the next two decades, 380 million people will migrate from rural areas into metropolises. That would mean creating 20 new cities the size of Mumbai or São Paolo. In this context, it is somewhat ironic that Western property firms are promoting sprawl in Indian cities as the norm. Because demographic and geographic developments in Asia, Africa and South America will inevitably lead to increased urbanization, one might think that cities in these regions should prepare for the numerous consequences that come with dramatic population shifts to urban zones. Surprisingly few politicians, bankers and urban planners have found it necessary to take action, though.
