Introduction

In the 21 st century, massive urbanization is happening worldwide especially in developing countries

and act as platform for driving the demographic shifts, structural of national economic changes as well
as social structure of population. As shown in Figure 25.1, the global urban population is projected to
increase from 3.5 to 6.3 billion by 2050 while the world rural population is expected to decrease.

Figure 25.1: Population Trends and Projection, 1950-2020 (Source: United Nations, Department of
Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division 2011; 2012: p. 56)

Cities are important economic drivers in their entire nation and world stage (UN System Task Team,
2012). Although the transitions that are taking place provide huge opportunities for innovation and
economic development, but it has tremendous implications to the environmental and socio-economic
challenges such as global warming, poverty, congestion of population and population (The World
Bank, 2010). How cities can play a crucial role in moving our societies toward a more environmentally
sustainable future and environmentally sensitive local politics (Stren et al. , 1992)? In order to sustain
our Earth in this urbanization wave, it is important to have a paradigm shift to overcome the current
and future challenges.

World Bank Initiatives

The World Bank(2009: p. xvii) offer a definition of ecological cities as the cities which enhance the
wellbeing of their citizens and society through integrated urban planning and management that fully
harnesses the benefits of ecological systems, and protects and nurtures these assets for future
generations. Economic cities are known as cities which create value and opportunities for citizens,
businesses, and society by efficiently utilizing all tangible and intangible assets, and enabling
productive, inclusive, and sustainable economic activity (ibid).

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Eco2Cities are the fusion of ecological cities and economic cities. Eco2 Cities project which is a part of
the new World Bank Urban Strategy was initiated by World Bank in 2009 to build and support the
cities and urban places in developing countries in recognising the importance of ecological and
economic sustainability. Sebastian et. al. (2011) defined Eco2Cities as cities that provide economic
opportunities for their citizens in an inclusive sustainable and resource-efficient way, while protecting
and nurturing the local ecology and global public goods such as the environment for the future
generation .

Eco2Cities model is created based on 4 key principles which become the contributors of Eco2Cities
initiatives: A city based approach. Enables local governments to lead a development process that
takes into account their specific circumstances, including their local ecology. An expanded platform
for collaborative design and decision-making. Accomplishes sustained synergy by coordinating and
aligning the actions of key stakeholders. A one system approach. Enables cities to realize the benefits
of integration by planning, designing, and managing the whole urban system. An investment
framework that values sustainability and resiliency. Incorporates and accounts for lifecycle analysis,
the value of all capital assets (manufactured, natural human, and social), and a broader scope of risk
assessments in decision-making. (Source: Sebastian et. al., 2012, p. 2)

City-Based Approach

The first principle in the Eco2Cities is a city-based approach (Figure 25.2) with two complementary
messages: Cities on the frontline of development and management Importance of incorporation of
the specific aspects particularly ecology assets

Figure 25.2: The city based approach is bottom-up (Source: Sebastian and Arish, 2010: p.5)

The city-based approach use both bottom-up and top-down approaches at same time. Top-down
approach is used to help the decision makers at the state or national levels to enforce local solution
while the bottom-up approach works at the local level to help to create solutions towards self-
sufficiency cities (see Figure 25.2). Both approaches are important in equipping the city with finance
and technical knowledge at different levels of knowledge sharing, planning and implementation
(Suzuki et. al., 2010).

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Stakeholder Participation

Participation of stakeholders from public, private, NGOs and citizens are very important to determine
the future of the cities. Eco2Cities initiatives involved collaboration from three categories of tiers from
the corporate, municipal and regional (Suzuki et. al., 2011).

Figure 25.3: (Source: Sebastian et. al., 2011: p.9)

In Figure 25.3, the outermost tier will be the regional level, followed by municipal and lastly the
municipal level. As we moved from the innermost to the outermost level, the number of stakeholders
are increasing as well as the complexity and the range of potential benefits. The three-tier is an
important engagement platform which allows the stakeholders in city to take part and co-operate
towards the Eco2Cities project.

Life Cycle Approach

Commonly, the investment in cities are basically kept as low as possible and focussed on the short-run
internal costs and technology innovation is deterred to prevent any financial risks. Eco2Cities
emphasised on urban sustainability systems incorporation approaches. All the major investments
from public are subjected to the analysis of life cycle cost and measures taken to maximise the co-
benefits on community sustainability and resiliency and minimised the cost of the project (Eco2Cities
Guide,2012). Apart from that, the capital assets such as manufacturing, natural, social and human
capital and their services which needed an equal attention are valued appropriately using a set of
indicators. Cultural, historical and aesthetic aspects are taken into consideration in costs and benefits
assessments. The Life cycle costs of a building way beyond construction is over also needs to be
considered (Figure 25.4).

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Figure 25.4: The Life cycle costs of a building go way beyond construction (Source: Brick 2008: p.11)

Conclusion

Development of Eco2Cities is a continuous long term process which require co-operation of citizen
and stakeholders from different levels and may involve policy and structural changes. Curitiba, Brazil;
Stockholm, Sweden; Yokohama, Japan; Singapore; Vancouver, Canada; Auckland, New Zealand and
Brisbane, Australia are the cities which have took part in the Eco2Cities programme. These cities,
largely, have been successful in balancing the ecological aspects as well as the economic, and their
examples should be emulated by all cities which are aiming to achieve sustainable development goals.