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From Unsustainable to Inclusive Cities
Chapter 5: Unsustainable Development: The Philippine Experience, by Karina Constantino-David
High rates of urbanization in the South have led to unsustainable development in the region’s cities and towns. Following the development paradigm of the North, the form of development that is taking place is “parasitic”, in that it excludes the poor and is inappropriate to the situations faced in the South. For countries of the South, participation in the global market has also proved disastrous. Sustainable development aims to counterpoise economic growth with environmental concerns, but it remains to be seen whether this is possible. This chapter highlights the need to be aware of a country’s “carrying” and “caring” capacity, and argues that work toward sustainable development needs to start with the poor.