Urbanization and Environment

<b>Purpose and learning objectives</b> Half of the world’s population now resides in urban areas. Many lack access to sufficient incomes, housing, safe water and sanitation. The course analyses city and slum growth, environmental consequences and economic and social inequalities. The focus lies on local environments in cities of the South, on people’s provisioning strategies and their individual and collective actions. <b>Content and teaching methods</b> The course addresses theoretical perspectives on urban growth, urban environments and economic and political processes. Urban change is understood in the context of global processes. Theoretical insights are applied through the study of concrete sectors – water provision, housing etc – and cities. Various methods for studying urban processes and environmental impacts will be compared. The approach is cross-disciplinary.