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The urban south and the predicament of global sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Harini Nagendra

    (Azim Premji University)

  • Xuemei Bai

    (Australian National University
    Beijing Normal University)

  • Eduardo S. Brondizio

    (Indiana University
    University of Campinas)

  • Shuaib Lwasa

    (Makarere University)

Abstract

Urbanization is a global phenomenon with strong sustainability implications across multiple scales. We argue that much of the associated challenges, and opportunities, are found in the global south. We show that urban issues in the global south are distinctly and statistically different from those in the global north, but our current urban knowledge is predominantly shaped by research on and from the global north. Cities in the global south have strong imperatives, and unique but often overlooked capacity, to innovate and experiment for sustainability. We call for a renewed research focus on urbanization in the south, and suggest targeted efforts to correct structural biases in the knowledge production system.

Suggested Citation

  • Harini Nagendra & Xuemei Bai & Eduardo S. Brondizio & Shuaib Lwasa, 2018. "The urban south and the predicament of global sustainability," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(7), pages 341-349, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:1:y:2018:i:7:d:10.1038_s41893-018-0101-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-018-0101-5
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    Cited by:

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    3. Rika Preiser & Reinette Biggs & Maike Hamann & Nadia Sitas & Odirilwe Selomane & Joy Waddell & Hayley Clements & Tanja Hichert, 2021. "Co‐exploring relational heuristics for sustainability transitions towards more resilient and just Anthropocene futures," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 625-634, October.
    4. Saskia Wolff & Makarius V. Mdemu & Tobia Lakes, 2021. "Defining the Peri-Urban: A Multidimensional Characterization of Spatio-Temporal Land Use along an Urban–Rural Gradient in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Carmen Antuña-Rozado & Justo García-Navarro & Pekka Huovila, 2019. "Challenges in Adapting Sustainable City Solutions from Finland to Different Contexts Worldwide: A Libyan Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-20, May.
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    7. Attila Buzási & Bettina Szimonetta Jäger, 2021. "Exploratory Analysis of Urban Sustainability by Applying a Strategy-Based Tailor-Made Weighting Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, June.
    8. Stålhammar, Sanna, 2021. "Polarised views of urban biodiversity and the role of socio-cultural valuation: Lessons from Cape Town," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    9. Dias, Vitor M. & Soares, Pedro Paulo de Miranda Araújo & Brondizio, Eduardo S. & Cruz, Sandra Helena Ribeiro, 2021. "Grassroots mobilization in Brazil’s urban Amazon: Global investments, persistent floods, and local resistance across political and legal arenas," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    10. Jari Lyytimäki & Hanna Nieminen & Nufar Finel & Elina Nyberg & Tapio Reinikainen, 2022. "Are the Indicators of the New Urban Agenda Failing Us?," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(4), pages 614-616, September.
    11. Abdul Mannan & Fan Yongxiang & Tauheed Ullah Khan & Syed Moazzam Nizami & Beckline Mukete & Adnan Ahmad & Ummay Amara & Jincheng Liu & Mamoona Wali Muhammad, 2021. "Urban Growth Patterns and Forest Carbon Dynamics in the Metropolitan Twin Cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-14, November.
    12. Seth Schindler & Jonathan Silver, 2019. "Florida in the Global South: How Eurocentrism Obscures Global Urban Challenges—and What We Can Do about It," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 794-805, July.
    13. Veerkamp, Clara J. & Schipper, Aafke M. & Hedlund, Katarina & Lazarova, Tanya & Nordin, Amanda & Hanson, Helena I., 2021. "A review of studies assessing ecosystem services provided by urban green and blue infrastructure," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    14. Thomas Hickmann, 2021. "Locating Cities and Their Governments in Multi-Level Sustainability Governance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 211-220.
    15. Daniel Richards & Mahyar Masoudi & Rachel R. Y. Oh & Erik S. Yando & Jingyuan Zhang & Daniel A. Friess & Adrienne Grêt-Regamey & Puay Yok Tan & Peter J. Edwards, 2019. "Global Variation in Climate, Human Development, and Population Density Has Implications for Urban Ecosystem Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-14, November.
    16. John E. Fernández & Marcela Angel, 2020. "Ecological City-States in an Era of Environmental Disaster: Security, Climate Change and Biodiversity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-21, July.
    17. Mohamed Hachaichi & Jafaru Egieya, 2023. "Water-Food-Energy Nexus in Global Cities: Addressing Complex Urban Interdependencies," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(4), pages 1811-1825, March.
    18. Md Shahin Alam & Eva Schlecht & Marion Reichenbach, 2022. "Impacts of COVID-19 on Small-Scale Dairy Enterprises in an Indian Megacity—Insights from Greater Bengaluru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    19. Hebinck, Aniek & Selomane, Odirilwe & Veen, Esther & de Vrieze, Anke & Hasnain, Saher & Sellberg, My & Sovová, Lucie & Thompson, Kyle & Vervoort, Joost & Wood, Amanda, 2020. "Exploring the transformative potential of urban food: a future research agenda," SocArXiv 4k6dh, Center for Open Science.
    20. Yue Dou & Guolin Yao & Anna Herzberger & Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva & Qian Song & Ciara Hovis & Mateus Batistella & Emilio Moran & Wenbin Wu & Jianguo Liu, 2020. "Land-Use Changes in Distant Places: Implementation of a Telecoupled Agent-Based Model," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 23(1), pages 1-11.
    21. Karen T. Lourdes & Chris N. Gibbins & Perrine Hamel & Ruzana Sanusi & Badrul Azhar & Alex M. Lechner, 2021. "A Review of Urban Ecosystem Services Research in Southeast Asia," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-21, January.
    22. Michele Acuto & Benjamin Leffel, 2021. "Understanding the global ecosystem of city networks," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(9), pages 1758-1774, July.
    23. Afam I. O. Jideani & Awelani P. Mutshinyani & Ntsako P. Maluleke & Zwivhuya P. Mafukata & Mkateko V. Sithole & Mashudu U. Lidovho & Edwin K. Ramatsetse & Monica M. Matshisevhe, 2021. "Impact of Industrial Revolutions on Food Machinery - An Overview," Journal of Food Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(5), pages 1-42, December.
    24. Ordóñez Barona, Camilo & Eleuterio, Ana Alice & Vasquez, Alexis & Devisscher, Tahia & Baptista, Mariana Dias & Dobbs, Cynnamon & Orozco-Aguilar, Luis & Meléndez-Ackerman, Elvia, 2023. "Views of government and non-government actors on urban forest management and governance in ten Latin-American capital cities," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    25. Nagendra, Harini & Mukhopadhyay, Pranab & Ghate, Rucha, 2021. "Celebrating Jodha: And Revisiting the Commons," Ecology, Economy and Society - the INSEE Journal, Indian Society of Ecological Economics (INSEE), vol. 4(01), January.

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