Creating sustainable innovative cities in developing countries: challenges and strategies

With rapid growth of urbanization in developing world, urban sustainability has become the precursor of global sustainability. The growth of cities in developing and emerging economies is accelerating much faster than cities in more developed countries. In this paper the challenges and strategies for creating sustainable innovative cities in developing world is explored. The greatest challenge is the increase in the numbers of the urban poor. Most cities have not been able to provide adequate basic services for their citizens. To prosper in a long term, fast growing cities must consider factors such as the availability of resources (space, water and energy), job opportunities and provision of services. Successful innovative cities tend to support and nurture technology and innovation as a mean of providing solution to these problems. Many of these solutions are scalable, replicable and can be adapted to a variety of specific urban environments. To create an environment for creative class in the scale of large cities requires right planning as well as good degree of local partnerships among public and private stakeholders.