An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State - March 2000 Volume 5, Number 1 Focus | Commentary | Departments | Masthead (Download Adobe Acrobat version / zipped ASCII version) From the Editors No matter where they are, cities are centers of art, culture, business, and government. Their vibrant energy makes them pulse points of nations. At the same time, cities are increasingly a nexus for environmental challenges. "The State of World Population 1999," issued by the United Nations Population Fund, documents the trends of increasing urbanization. One-third of the world's population lived in urban areas in 1960. By 1999, that percentage had increased to 47 percent. The report predicts 61 percent of the world's population will be city dwellers by 2030. The State of World Population 1999 offers this prediction about urbanization: ... the ecological and sociological "footprint" of cities has spread over ever-wider areas, creating an urban-rural continuum of communities that share some aspects of each lifestyle. Fewer and fewer places on the planet are unaffected by the dynamics of cities. Discussions among city planners and urbanists about the best ways to make cities work better for everybody are likely to become more heated in the next century as urban conglomerations of 10 million and more people become common and the associated problems grow exponentially. A major part of those problems will be environmental: designing effective land use; meeting the challenge of effective and environmentally friendly transportation; preserving open space; providing healthy air and water. We invite readers to consider some of the innovative and effective strategies currently emerging, in the United States and internationally, to avoid or mitigate the damage caused by this ever more important "ecological footprint." FOCUS Healthy Cities: Urban Environmental Solutions The White House Council on Environmental Quality advises the Clinton-Gore administration in crafting a balance between economic growth and environmental protection to achieve sustainability in U.S. communities. By George T. Frampton, Jr., Acting Chair, White House Council on Environmental Quality Creating Mobility and Livability in U.S. Communities Recent changes in U.S. laws have heightened the importance of environmental concerns in transportation policy. By Rodney E. Slater, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Practical Steps Toward Healthier Cities and a Cleaner Global Environment The U.S. Agency for International Development manages a variety of initiatives to improve urban environmental conditions around the world. By David Hales, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Global Environment Center, U.S. Agency for International Development COMMENTARY Green Ideas for Pollution Control in Developing Nations Innovative new strategies for protecting the environment are redefining the concepts of regulation, the roles of government, and the responsibility of the private sector. An interview with World Bank Economist David Wheeler Innovative Solutions Create Urban Sustainability Comprehensive strategies can transform blighted urban areas into green cities. By Janice E. Perlman, President of The Mega-Cities Project "Resource Cities" Partner for Progress A USAID program supports partnerships between U.S. and international cities to help improve environmental management. By Charlene Porter Clean Air Act Amendments Provide the Muscle to Fight Pollution The U.S. Clean Air Act originally passed in 1963 was weak and ineffective. But amendments added since then, especially landmark legislation passed with overwhelming support by the U.S. Congress in 1990, have led to substantial cuts in air pollution over the last decade. By Jim Fuller It Takes Us All, It Takes Forever The U.S. city of Chattanooga, Tennessee, has received international attention for its progress in cleaning up the environment. By Charlene Porter Sustainable Development: A Wave of Local Innovation An excerpted report by the President's Council on Sustainable Development on how state and local governments across the United States work to contain sprawl and protect the environment. DEPARTMENTS Bibliography Books, documents, and articles on environmental and urban issues. Internet Sites A list of Internet sites offering further information on environment, sustainability, and livable communities. global issues An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State IIP/T/GIC.usia.gov Publisher Judith S. Siegel; Editor William Peters; Managing Editor Charlene Porter; Text Editor Jim Fuller; Internet Editor Tim Brown; Associate Editors Carlos Aranaga, Wayne Hall; Reference and Research Monica Mieroszewska, Joan Taylor; Art Director Chloe Ellis; Graphics Assistant Sylvia Scott; Editorial Board Judith S. Siegel, Howard Cincotta, Leonardo Williams. The Office of International Information Programs of the U.S. Department of State publishes five electronic journals that examine major issues facing the United States and the international community. The journals -- Economic Perspectives, Global Issues, Issues of Democracy, U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda, and U.S. Society and Values -- provide analysis, commentary, and background information in their respective thematic areas. All journal editions appear in English, French, and Spanish language versions, and selected issues also appear in Arabic, Russian, and Portuguese. A new English-language issue is published every three to six weeks. Translated versions normally follow the English original by two to four weeks. The order in which the thematic editions appear is irregular, as some editions publish more issues than others. The opinions expressed in the journals do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. government. The U.S. Department of State assumes no responsibility for the content and continued accessibility of Internet sites linked to herein; such responsibility resides solely with the publishers of those sites. 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