Urbanization Research Articles

The Intention of Community Garden Participation: A Case Study in Community Garden of Taman Tasik Ilmu, Kota Seriemas

Malaysia's population is projected to reach approximately 41.5 million by 2040, marking a significant increase from its current population. This projection is based on various factors, including birth rates, death rates, and migration trends. With this rapid population increase, the urbanization rate is expected to rise, leading to concerns about food security. Ensuring food security becomes a pressing issue, as the country must produce or import enough food to feed its population. This is where community garden programs and other local food production initiatives can play a significant role in supplementing food supply and promoting sustainable agriculture. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced in 2015, specifically Goal No. 2 (Zero Hunger), emphasize the need to address food security issues. One of Malaysia's strategies to achieve Goal No. 2 is through the implementation of community garden programs. However, the success of such programs largely depends on the intention and volunteerism of community participants. This study aims to explore the intention behind community garden participation at Taman Tasik Ilmu. Data was collected using an online questionnaire with 40 participants. The questionnaire gathered information on demographics, gardening knowledge, reasons for participation, and opinions on facilities and garden management. Descriptive analysis was employed to analyze the collected data. The results indicated that the primary motivation for participants to join the community garden program was to fill their free time. This finding suggests that aligning the objectives of community garden programs with the intentions of participants may enhance their success and sustainability.

Patterns and causes of soil heavy metals and carbon stock in green spaces along an urbanization gradient

The surge in urbanization has correspondingly given rise to exacerbated carbon footprint and burgeoning heavy metal (HM) contamination, constituting a critical impediment to the realization of environmentally sustainable urban development pathways. Therefore, it is highly essential to investigate the impacts of urbanization process on soil carbon, heavy metals (HMs), as well as their interrelationships. Employing remote sensing and land use data within a 45 km radius in Chongqing, this study selected 31 sites to assess the variation in urban green spaces (UGSs) carbon sequestration capabilities and associated HM pollution risks across differing urbanization levels. Results showed that urbanization dynamics and land use history play a more decisive role than current anthropogenic management in shaping the distribution of soil carbon and HMs within urban environments. The average soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution of UGSs is 8.47 mg ha−1 (1.50–24.20 mg ha−1), concurrent with moderate HM pollution showing Ni: 32.03–33.50 mg kg−1, Pb: 27.93–29.65 mg kg−1, Cu: 26.97–41.20 mg kg−1, while Cd exhibits the most severe pollution range of 0.23–0.30 mg kg−1. The rate of urbanization significantly influences SOC stocks, exhibiting an increase when the urbanization rate is below 70.79 % and a decrease upon surpassing this threshold. The concentration of HMs is predominantly determined by the historical usage of the land, with a marked escalation correlating with the duration of land utilization history. These relationships were quantitatively modeled through the application of fitted linear functions. The structural equation model demonstrated that UGSs operating without anthropogenic disturbance tend towards degradation, indicating that temporary homeostasis might be sustained via the addition of N and P nutrients and pH modulation. In conclusion, we formulate an Urban Green Spaces Development Hypothesis that aims to shed light on the multifaceted challenges encountered by cities amidst varying degrees of urbanization and, concurrently, to probe potential ameliorative strategies.

Spatial-temporal dynamics and influencing factors of city level carbon emission of mainland China

Urban areas are major sources of carbon emissions, making it crucial to understand their emission characteristics for effective carbon reduction and sustainable development. Using carbon emission data from mainland China (2001–2021), we analyzed the spatio-temporal dynamics and future trends of city-level emissions and explored influencing factors using machine learning methods. Results indicate significant fluctuations in carbon emissions, with over 40 % of mainland Chinese cities experiencing a doubling in total emissions. Geospatially, cities in South Coast (SC), East Coast (EC), Northeast (NE), and NorthCoast (NC) show stronger intensity and increasing trends in carbon emissions compared to other regions, with over 80 % of cities in these regions experiencing high or higher increases. Additionally, a continued rise in carbon emissions was detected in most Chinese cities, with an average Hurst index of 0.64, indicating persistent trends. Using the XGBoost method, factors such as population density, built-up area, urban green coverage rate, and GDP were found to strongly correlate with urban carbon emissions, exhibiting significant spatial heterogeneity. This research uncovers the characteristics and influencing factors of urban-scale carbon emissions, offering valuable insights for policymakers to tailor carbon reduction strategies to the specific needs and conditions of various urban areas.

Impact of urban greening on population health in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionThe rate of urbanisation in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has increased remarkably, with the urban population expected to double by 2050. This rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and climate change pose serious public...

An investigation of the factors underlying informal settlement growth: The case of Burayu City, Ethiopia

Informal settlements in developing countries’ cities are becoming more and more widespread. The city of Burayu is no exception to this trend. To address the challenges involved, it is important to understand the reasons for the prevalence and perseverance of informal settlement. However, there is a lack of institutional and actor perspectives to investigate the process and factors driving the growth of informal settlement in Burayu city. This study investigates the process and precipitating factors underlying the growth of informal settlements based on institutions, structure and agency and social non-compliance perspectives. Primary data for this study were gathered via key informant interviews, questionnaires, and observations. Secondary data were obtained from the empirical data. This study revealed that local informal institutions such as social networking play a crucial role in the growth process of informal settlement by fostering an informal written contract of sale. The study also identified rural-urban migration, speculation, locational choice, and lack of good governance as precipitating causes for the growth of informal settlement. In addition, actors use formal institutional loopholes to engage in informal buildings. Therefore, along with government structure ineffectiveness, the behavior of informal actors’ was also identified as an important, albeit often neglected, factor in the growth of informal settlements. Identifying the impact of various informal actors' behaviors on the proliferation of informal settlements is vital not only for improving relationships among actors but also for introducing relevant institutions to control informal actors to improve land governance.

How does new-type urbanization promote green development efficiency in China? The mediating role of governments, enterprises, and residents

New-type urbanization (NTU) is proposed by China to solve unsustainable issues and improve green development efficiency (GDE) during the process of rapid urbanization. However, the impact mechanism of NTU on GDE is unclear. Using panel data of 282 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2019, we measured NTU and GDE to describe their spatiotemporal pattern and relationship evolution. The fixed effects panel model and mediating effect panel model were further utilized to analyze the benchmark impact, mediating mechanism and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of NTU on GDE. The results showed that NTU improved whose level in eastern region was the highest, while GDE increased in fluctuations whose level in eastern and western regions performed better. With the proportion of double-high cities increasing from 13.83% to 43.62%, the NTU-GDE relationship was upgraded. Overall, every 1% improvement in NTU increased GDE by 0.3111%, and the enterprise effect, resident effect and government effect played a positive mediating role from high to low. During the later stage of NTU, it improved GDE more strongly and the mediating role of governments was optimized. The eastern region was the only region with three positive mediating roles of governments, enterprises and residents. These findings will facilitate GDE through NTU in China and have reference significance for the sustainability of global urbanization.

Exploring the Impact of Public Spaces on Social Cohesion in Resettlement Communities from the Perspective of Experiential Value: A Case Study of Fuzhou, China

With the rapid pace of global urbanization, the urbanization of resettlement communities in China has garnered increasing attention from scholars. This study, grounded in experiential value theory, delves into the relationship between public spaces in resettlement communities and their social cohesion. Focusing on resettlement communities in the central urban area of Fuzhou, this study employs a mixed-method approach to analyze the functional characteristics of public spaces using geospatial data, including their green coverage ratio, spatial accessibility, facility configuration, and neighborhood density. A correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were employed to identify the key elements influencing social cohesion. The results indicate significant disparities in the green coverage, accessibility, facility configuration, and neighborhood density of public spaces. These differences are evident in the quantitative metrics used and also reflect imbalances in spatial layout and resource distribution, highlighting potential pathways for optimizing the quality of public spaces. Further data analyses revealed that both emotional value (β = 0.602, p < 0.01) and functional value (β = 0.136, p < 0.01) have significant positive impacts on social cohesion, with emotional value being particularly influential. This study offers insights for urban planners and policymakers by providing scientific evidence for the optimization of public space design in resettlement communities, with implications for community governance and urban sustainability.

Study of spatial spillover effects and threshold characteristics of the influence of urbanization on grain green production efficiency in China under carbon constraints.

Food security is a basic guarantee for maintaining social stability, and improving green and healthy grain production is the way to promote food security. China is currently experiencing rapid urbanization that has an impact on grain production and security, with reduced arable land, environmental pollution, insufficient agricultural population, and inadequate resource allocation. How to deal with the relationship between urbanization and grain production becomes the key to solve this problem. Therefore, this study constructs an evaluation system of grain green production efficiency (GGPE) with non-expected output containing carbon emissions, and uses the super-efficient SBM model to measure the level of GGPE, and constructs a spatial econometric model to examine the spatial correlation and spillover effect of urbanization on GGPE; then constructs a panel threshold model to analyze the nonlinear threshold characteristics between urbanization and GGPE. It was found that (1) from 2000 to 2019, China's GGPE showed an overall upward trend, and the performance of GGPE varied among different provinces. (2) According to the results of the spatial econometric model, China's GGPE shows obvious spatial characteristics, and the level of urbanization not only directly affects regional GGPE but also can indirectly affect neighboring regions' GGPE through spatial spillover effects, and the indirect effects among regions are larger than the direct effects. (3) Spatial threshold effect results, there is a significant non-linear threshold characteristic of the impact of urbanization rate on GGPE. In terms of the influence effects of other variables, the influence of each variable on GGPE is roughly in the same direction as the influence under the spatial spillover effect, but the degree of influence is slightly different.

THE URBAN EVOLUTION OUAD EL HAD: FROM A MINOR URBAN EXTENSION TO AN INFAMOUS AND ILLICIT NEIGHBORHOOD

Informal housing represents a complex phenomenon with far-reaching implications for urban development and social equity, it is characterized by its spontaneous and unauthorized nature, it has emerged as a significant phenomenon in urban areas worldwide and usually arises a multitude of socio-economic challenges such as rapid urbanization, poverty, and as in our case, rural migration, Therefore, understanding the spatial evolution of informal settlements is crucial for designing more equitable and sustainable living environments. That was the case of “Ouad El Had”, a neighborhood that may be considered as one of the focal points in metropolis of Constantine, informal housing started as an extension, an illicit urbanization due to rural-to-urban migration led to the perpetuation of informal settlements on what was in that time the outskirts of city, Nowadays, housing shortages caused the proliferation of informal settlements, those settlements presented a chance to obtain a house in the social housing program given by the government leading it to get repopulated every time and after several attempts to evacuate the entire zone starting from 2012 to this actual day. Our paper offers an in-depth analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution to the informal housing situated in the neighborhood “Cité des Fréres Abbas” (Ouad El Had) and its evolution within urban and social contexts with the objective of understanding the complex case of this neighborhood that led to its repopulation after every evacuation or displacement and identifying the urban model generated of during this process.

Analysis of spatial and temporal evolution and driving factors of carbon emission in Shandong Province: based on the perspective of land use

Land use/cover change is the second major contributor to carbon emissions, following energy emissions. Studying provincial land-use carbon emissions is crucial for achieving the “double carbon” goal. This study selects 16 prefecture-level cities in Shandong Province as the research object. It analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of carbon emissions in Shandong Province based on land-use data and energy consumption. In terms of net carbon emissions, this study utilizes the standard deviation ellipse and kernel density estimation to analyze net carbon emissions change from the municipal and regional perspectives. In terms of carbon ecological carrying capacity, not only the carbon ecological carrying capacity of forest and grassland was considered, but also the carbon ecological carrying capacity of crops in Shandong Province, which is a large grain province. Using the geographic detector to explore the drivers. Research findings indicate that carbon sources and sinks show a clear spatial and temporal distribution pattern, with the center of gravity of net carbon emissions extending to the northeast. Areas with high carbon ecological carrying capacity have high forest coverage, grassland coverage, and crop yields. Regarding driving factors, the urbanization rate, economic aggregate, and technological progress demonstrate significant explanatory power through single and interaction tests, suggesting that these factors are critical drivers of land-use carbon emissions within Shandong Province. Based on the spatiotemporal pattern analysis of land-use carbon emissions in Shandong Province, each city's growth rate and spatial distribution characteristics can be clarified, providing a scientific basis for the local government to formulate regional and differentiated emission-reduction policies. In addition, by exploring the driving factors of land-use carbon emissions in Shandong Province, the influence level of factors on carbon emissions can be revealed to provide references for formulating regional sustainable development strategies.

Migration processes in the Republic of Kazakhstan: current situation and consequences

Rural population migration is an objective process that affects the economic, environmental, social and demographic development of countries and their individual territories. Regulation and supervision of the migration process is one of the priority tasks of the state. The aim is to the scale and direction of migration flows in rural areas of the republic, the reasons for migration and the degree of influence on the labor market in rural areas are considered. Methods - comparisons to determine quantitative indicators characterizing the level of resettlement of economically active citizens. Assessment of the dynamics of those who arrived and left the RS was carried out by the methods of grouping and graphical analysis. Generalization method - in formulating the main aspects of resettlement. Results - the authors state that it is necessary to improve the mechanisms of legal labor migration, explanation and counseling, legal protection and organizational measures for those arriving and departing. Special attention should be paid to the development of infrastructure, creation of new jobs, career opportunities, high income, social conditions in rural settlements (RS) with high levels of local displacement. Based on the study, it is concluded that even positive trends and sustainable growth in production do not suppress the incentives for outflow to the city both for permanent residence and in search of temporary work. Conclusions - the location of rural areas near the regional center, the location of agricultural enterprises and farms, favorable natural and climatic conditions have a great impact on the attraction of migrants to rural areas. Based on the above, the key factor contributing to the reduction of migration loss of population can be called diversification of the economy in rural areas, further development of existing and creation of new production facilities.

Urban Water Management in Milan Metropolitan Area, a review

The increasing rate of urbanisation and extreme climatic events represent a constant threat for urban water resources management. In recent decades, Milan Metropolitan Area (Lombardy Region, Northern Italy) has been affected by a) frequent extreme rainfall events, responsible for the flooding of major surface water courses, and b) groundwater management problems, both from a quantitative (i.e. interaction with underground infrastructures) and qualitative point of view. Moreover, the increasing use of groundwater geothermal systems also requires further considerations. This work analyses the literature available in the area regarding surface floods, groundwater quantity, quality, and temperature. Finally, a discussion is provided to understand a) which approaches could promote an effective management of both surface water and groundwater resources b) which points of contact emerge between these two aspects of the urban water cycle, and c) which possible urban interventions could contribute to an integrated and functional management of water resources, also reducing some current issues.

Infrastructural modernization of the agro-industrial complex as the most important vector of accelerated development of rural areas

The article is devoted to the issues of socio-economic development of rural areas - one of the key performance indicators of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan. The aim is to study the economic potential of rural areas, to determine the prospective directions of production and social transformation of Ushterek village of Yevgenyevsky rural district of Pavlodar region. Methods - target, hypothesis setting, strategic planning and forecasting were used to identify problem situations, setting goals and solving problems. Justification and argumentation of reasoning in the work are obtained on the basis of analytical information, including comparison, evaluation, generalization and systematization of statistical data. Results - the authors analyzed the degree of provision with social infrastructure of this region. The influence of various factors on the expansion of this sphere is investigated. The range of problems that hinder the effective activity of this sector is outlined. It is noted that the realization of the economic potential of rural areas will allow solving a number of issues of modernization of infrastructure facilities. Conclusions - the regional system of social resources should take into account the main interests of the state, aimed at improving the quality of life and welfare of the population. These are, first of all, solving the housing problem and meeting the growing needs of residents in quality housing, improving environmental conditions, strengthening the professional training of workers as a basis for increasing labor productivity and the volume of goods and services, creating guarantees of social security of rural residents. The state authorities should be interested in the development of social programs for rural areas, since the earliest solution of the set tasks is the key criterion for the retention of rural residents in rural areas, which is most important for the republic in the context of increasing rates of urbanization.

Challenges and Future of Sustainable Development in Chinese Cities from the Perspective of Urban Poverty Alleviation

In today's world, facing various global challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, the United Nations proposed a global action plan in 2015 - the Sustainable Development Goals, with SDG1 aiming to eradicate all forms of poverty. The rapid pace of global urbanization in the 21st century is bringing new challenges. Among them, poverty is a major issue with serious implications for sustainable urban development. In China, poverty has always been a focal point of government and societal attention. By the end of 2020, absolute poverty in rural areas of China had been effectively eliminated, but urban poverty has increasingly become prominent, affecting the sustainable development of Chinese cities. The purpose of this research is to collect information from literature, identify research hotspots and trends in urban poverty alleviation in China, and analyze the challenges faced by sustainable development in Chinese cities and how to address these issues. This study analyzes the research hotspots and trends in urban poverty alleviation in China through the use of CiteSpace software and bibliometrics in order to promote sustainable urban development in China.

Exploration of the Urbanization Process and Its Impact on Vegetation in 125 Resource-Based Cities in China and Comparison with Other Cities

Resource-based cities (RBCs) in China are at a historic juncture in their transformative development. Observing and assessing the role of the resource curse in urban expansion and greening is crucial for the sustainable development of these cities. This study proposes a new framework to extract urban boundary data from 2000 to 2020 in China. Utilizing these data, we analyzed differences in urban expansion intensity and urban vegetation cover between 125 RBCs and 223 non-RBCs. We found the following: (1) While urban areas in China experienced steady growth from 2000 to 2020, the urban area expansion rates of RBCs lagged behind those non-RBCs located in the same geographical areas except in South China, with the lowest annual expansion rate of 1.18% occurring in the Northeast. (2) Although the existing urban areas in some cities show a greening trend, both existing and new urban areas in China are predominantly characterized overall by browning. Surprisingly, RBCs exhibit a stronger greening trend than non-RBCs, particularly in Northwestern China. (3) There is a nuanced interplay and coexistence between resource dependency and urban expansion, with a specific negative correlation when resource dependency is very high or very low. This study provides a novel method and approach for urban boundary delineation. It offers new insights into the developmental characteristics of RBCs, enriching the theoretical framework of resource curse research and supporting the green development of RBCs with robust data.

The Current Situation of Educational Equity Between Urban and Rural Areas in China: An Analysis of Literature Review

Since the fifth plenary session of Chinas 19th Five-Year Plan introduced the objective of "promoting educational equity and driving the balanced development in compulsory education, as well as urban-rural integration", the unequal development of compulsory education between urban and rural areas has been widely discussed by Chinese scholars as a crucial topic of educational equity. This study found through a literature review that the rate of urbanization among students during their compulsory education years surpasses that of the general population, which is related to the uneven distribution of educational resources between city and countryside, namely the phenomenon of "underdeveloped rural regions and overcrowded urban regions". Numerous scholars have analyzed the influencing factors of this disparity and proposed relevant policies and solutions, broadening public awareness about issues related to fairness in rural-urban compulsory education and promoting research work in this field. However, there are still unsolved difficulties in optimizing the urban-rural educational pattern and achieving educational equity, which are problems that China needs to address in its economic-social development processes and educational reform.

Research on the impact of digital inclusive finance on the performance of rural returnee entrepreneurs in China

Using data from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), this paper explores the impact of digital inclusive finance on the entrepreneurial performance of returning rural migrants. The study first finds that digital inclusive finance can enhance the entrepreneurial performance of returning rural migrants. Second, it significantly improves entrepreneurial performance in three dimensions: the degree of digitization in inclusive finance, the depth of digital financial usage, and the breadth of digital financial coverage. Third, farmers’ digital participation, digital usage, and the extent of digital usage are crucial pathways through which digital inclusive finance influences their entrepreneurial performance. Fourth, the impact of digital inclusive finance on entrepreneurial performance varies according to different types of migration, duration of migration, scale of entrepreneurship, educational attainment, and credit access channels. The findings of this study help validate the real effects of digital inclusive finance on entrepreneurial outcomes in rural populations.

Exploring the urban-rural dichotomies in post-pandemic migration intention: Empirical evidence from Europe

Since the beginning of the 21st century, we have been living in the ‘urban century’, characterised by a rise in the number of cities and mega-cities and a structural population increase in most cities, to the detriment of rural areas. Given the declining interest in rurality, the aims and scope of this paper are to map out the complex force field of rurality versus urbanity, and explore if the COVID pandemic has become a ‘game changer’ that thus may swift the existing patterns. Relying on multilevel modelling, to also account for between-country differences, and using Eurobarometer data on post-pandemic migration intention in both rural and urban areas, our results do not find support for a major post-covid urban exodus. Younger individuals from large cities are indeed more willing to leave for rural areas when they are convinced that they can play an active role in the local decision-making process. Teleworking, as well as EU concrete actions for addressing environmental issues, may also drive more migration toward rural areas. On the other hand, poor access to health services may push individuals towards urban areas. In policy terms, our findings advocate for improving access to public services in rural areas. In addition, the study reinforces the role of the Cohesion Policy to urge the twin transition, as facilitating teleworking and strengthening the environmental commitment were shown to make rural areas more appealing.

Impact on the Mental Health of Children Aged 8-13, Differentiating Between Children with or Without Green Space in Selected Areas of Pune City

This research explores the intricate relationship between green spaces and the mental well-being of children aged 8-13 in the context of global urbanization, with a focus on selected areas in Pune city. The study employs a comparative descriptive design to differentiate between children with and without access to green spaces. Findings indicate a significant difference in mental well-being based on the presence or absence of green spaces. Implications underscore the importance of urban planning integrating green spaces, promoting outdoor education, and raising community awareness. The study advocates for public health initiatives, safety measures, and a balanced approach to technology and outdoor play. The long-term impact on public health, support for green initiatives, and interdisciplinary collaboration are discussed, urging policymakers to consider green spaces in global urbanization plans.

Research on the Impact and Spillover Effects of Urbanization Process on Grain Production

Food security is an important strategic issue for the country. With the advancement of urbanization, food security needs to be re examined. Based on panel data from 31 provinces (regions, cities) in China from 2011 to 2022, this study analyzed the cluster effect of grain production using Moran index, and explored the impact of urbanization process on grain production and its spatial spillover effects through spatial Durbin model. Finally, the convergence of grain production was studied based on alpha and beta convergence models. The research results show that: (1) there is a significant cluster effect in grain production in various provinces, manifested as high-value clustering and low value clustering; (2) The urbanization rate promotes grain production in the province while suppressing grain production in neighboring provinces, while economic activity suppresses grain production in the province but promotes grain production in neighboring provinces. Overall, the urbanization rate significantly promotes grain production, while economic activities have a significant inhibitory effect on grain production; (3) There is no "catch-up effect" in grain production among provinces and grain functional zones, and the gap is showing a widening trend. This study aims to provide a reference basis for formulating food security policies.