Abstract
More people live in cities than ever before. According to the United Nations (UN) statistics, 55% of the world populations are living in cities, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. This is attributed to peoples’ assumption that cities are healthier and liveable. Thus, as more people migrate into cities from rural areas, urban populations will also increase. For example, it is a fact that countries with higher population growth such as Nigeria will witness significant challenges in migration. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has equally stated that cities are a key contributor to climate change as urban activities constitute sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Liveability and sustainability are determining factors when adjudging the standard of a healthy city. The concept of liveability focuses on how people in their respective communities are able to live a decent life in the context of their physical and moral wellbeing. In other words, city residents must have access to quality healthcare and education, adequate food, good housing, effective transportation system and a healthy environment, among other infrastructures. Sustainability on the other hand is characterized by a green, healthy, resilient, carbon neutral and net-zero city with all these terms depicting how technology, regeneration, circularity, equity, economic health, development plans, environmental justice and restoration can positively touch peoples’ lives for the benefit of the present and future generations. Liveability is therefore based on the principle of sustainability such that the health or wellbeing of city residents is dependent on an environmentally friendly city.
It should be noted that urban planning and healthy cities are connected. With the world’s population that is over 8 billion and climbing to 10 billion by year 2050, with 90% of this growth taking place in Africa and Asia, it is to be expected that unhealthy and unplanned cities in many developing countries in Africa will spring up, aggravating environmental pollution, climate change, dwindling economy, infrastructure overuse, housing deficit or shortage, youth restiveness, rising crime rate, traffic congestion, population and unemployment surge which are the negative effects of urban sprawl.