The next 25 years may see a shift of 1.6 billion people from rural to urban areas in Africa and Asia, according to UN population figures.

“Most cities [in developing countries] already have pressing concerns, including crime, lack of clean water and sanitation, and sprawling slums. But these problems pale in comparison with those that could be raised by future growth. If we do not plan ahead it will be a catastrophe. The changes are too fast to allow planners simply to react. If governments wait, it will be too late to [gain] advantages for the coming growth.”

Mayors from the United States are coming together in Seattle to discuss how cities can work to reduce greenhouse gases. “While Seattle does not stand alone in this effort, we are leading in several important areas.”

The City of Toronto has approved guidelines for the implementation of eco-friendly private and municipal parking lots. Lots are encouraged to have more trees, clear walkways and better drainage.

The city of Seattle approves a 10-year Bicycle Master Plan, an attempt to raise cycling awareness. The plan aims to build 118 miles of new bike lanes, 19 miles of trails, and the addition of lane markings and signs across the city.

A report says that Toronto has seen 440 premature deaths each year due to exhaust from cars, trucks and buses, giving the city a $2.2 billion health care bill.

“Ending years of quarreling between the city and environmental activists, the Seattle City Council on Monday forked out $400,000 to rectify damage done when the city illegally paved over wetlands to build a firefighter training facility.”

Toronto’s Mayor David Miller announced that Toronto aims to double its canopy cover of urban forest by the year 2050 as one of the city’s key goals in its green plan. But will Toronto be prepared and willing to change?

Toronto should be able to add 50 kilometres of bike lanes to city streets in 2008 if a bureaucratic speed bump is flattened out, says the chair of the bicycle committee.

“The good news out of China is that the People’s Republic will be spending $200 billion on cleaning up the air and water pollution that has marred its rapid economic growth. The bad news is that sum is virtually unchanged from the last budget and is unlikely to make a difference.”

Runoff, which picks up pollutants from across the landscape is a big concern in the Puget Sound area, says a report studying the pollution sources.