Science and Technology tauted for urban problems
By T. Sima Gunawan
ISTANBUL (JP): Scientists have urged world leaders to prioritize the role of science and technology in solving urban problems.
Seventy two of the world's academies of sciences stated prior to the UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) that the problem solving potential of technology has not been realized in regard to urbanization.
"A much broader discussion is needed on how the range of existing technological and scientific research findings can be translated into actions at the national, regional and local levels," the scientists' joint statement stated.
A related statement issued by 14 engineering academies underscored the role the world's engineering community should play in helping resolve the inherent conflicts surrounding the simultaneous pursuit of economic advancement and environmentally sustainable development.
Both statements will be officially submitted on Thursday to delegates of the UN conference for consideration.
Science and technology can only be beneficial if there is a coordinated effort among scientific researchers, urban planners, and political leaders, the statement said.
The statements were drafted on the weekend in response to concern that science and technology has been ignored in the document being prepared for the UN conference. The conference will likely serve to underpin future UN policy on urban development, and guide world leaders as they grapple with megacities.
"The fact is that science and technology have a crucial role and responsibility in providing solutions and in ensuring the long-term sustainability of cities," said Nobel Laureate F. Sherwood Rowland, foreign secretary to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and co-chair of the Inter Academy Panel that cosponsored the Istanbul meeting.
"It can't be done unless you have the education and training in place to ensure that scientific capacity continues to grow. And that concept, as well as others regarding science and technology, is missing from the UN document," he concluded.
Most of the world's population will live in cities by the middle of the next century. The rapid increase in urban dwellers -- 68 million a year -- presents massive challenges for urban infrastructure and services. At the same time, urban growth has fueled the economic growth of countries and has contributed to lower birth rates.
Cities throughout the world suffer from traffic congestion, pollution, insufficient water supplies, wasteful use of energy, waste disposal problems, inadequate housing, the spread of communicable diseases, the deterioration of social support systems, and many other problems.
Many new technologies have the potential to help solve some of the problems facing megacities, defined by the UN as urban areas with population of eight million or more.
According to the statement, the technologies include:
* Global positioning systems and global information systems, which permit entirely new methods of land management and tracking and can manipulate geographic, demographic and other data to serve as the basis for computer assisted and, ultimately, computer-controlled transportation system.
* Biotechnology and ecological engineering, which promises wiser use of local environments. For example, city parks carefully designed with certain types of plants may help reduce human exposures to air pollution from motor vehicles.
* Waste disposal and recycling.
* Disease surveillance and control to contain outbreaks that otherwise may turn into epidemics. In addition, more emphasis on drug and vaccine development is essential for preventing and fighting infectious diseases.