In the video, World Bank Director Sameh Wahba and Senior Urban Specialist Valerie Santos discuss how urban regeneration can catalyze the development of more sustainable and socially and economically inclusive cities.
Cities face an ever-increasing demand for land to accommodate their rising population. Meanwhile, cities have become responsible for providing more services to more people, but they often lack sufficient resources to do so. With an inadequate amount of serviced, transit-accessible land available within city boundaries, one billion urban residents already live in overpopulated slums to be close to economic activity and jobs.
Urban regeneration can help cities address the rising demand for land by densifying existing urban cores, particularly pockets of underused or disinvested land. Higher density is associated with economic growth and social integration. Denser, transit-friendlier cities also help lower carbon emissions, reduce pollution, and contribute to increased resilience.