IN spring, 2003, Earth, social, and life scientists from the Earth Institute at Columbia University will be putting their mission to work—mobilizing the sciences to build a sustainable future—in the west African city of Accra, Ghana. Accra is the first focus of 21st Century Cities, a new Earth Institute initiative that focuses on urban growth challenges.
“The 21st Century Cities project is based on the realization that this century will be heavily influenced by the rapid expansion of cities in developing countries,” says Earth Institute Director Jeffrey Sachs. “Population growth leads to economic growth, technological innovation, and cultural exchange. But these cities also suffer from poverty, environmental pollution, disease, and water issues. Our task at The Earth Institute is to help these cities reach their great potential.”
Professor Sigurd Grava of Columbia’s School of Architecture, Preservation, and Planning, who recently returned from an exploratory trip to Accra, says “we will be looking at growth issues including sewers, waste removal, energy supply, housing, public health, and how these things relate to each other.”
Earth Institute activities related to the 21st Century Cities project include:
