GLOBAL CITY - It is the “main physical and geographic playground of globalizing forces.

” (SAGE Handbook of
Globalization, 2014)

● It is a center where people, capital, and ideas from around the world are exchanged.
● Creative and innovative people, as well as excellent companies, are the target of such cities.
● Therefore, global cities serve as a place for innovation, creativity, and productivity.

Historical Development of Cities

1. Hunting and Gathering Society

- Earliest forms of human settlement
- People survived through hunting and foraging in the wild
- Division of laborwas based on sex No surplus
2. Horticultural Society
- People began to plant and cultivate crops
- There was surplus of goods
- Existence of social stratification and occupational specialization
3. Pastoral Society
- Depends on herding and domestication of animals for food and clothing.
- Partly relied on horticulture to succeed.
4. Agricultural Society
- Use of more advanced technology to improve the efficiency of food production
- Use of plow and irrigation
- Capability of producing huge surplus
5. Industrial Society
- Mechanical, electrical and fossil-fuel energy for production and other means
- Increase of trade globally
6. Post-industrial Society
- Depends on special knowledge in using technology to advance the society
- Spread of computer industries and internet connection

MEASUREMENT: Japan’s Institute for Urban Strategies: The Mori Memorial Foundation evaluates and
ranks global cities through the Global Power City Index.
- It measures a city’s ability to attract people around the world in 6 areas or its “magnetism.”

Global Power City Index (GPCI)

Criteria No. 1 – Economy

↪ It is indicated by the city’s market size, market attractiveness, economic vitality, human capital, business
environment, and ease of doing business.

Criteria No. 2 – Research and Development

↪ It is indicated by the city’s academic resources, research background, and innovation.

Criteria No. 3 – Cultural Interaction

↪ It is indicated by the city’s trendsetting potential, cultural resources, facilities for visitors, attractiveness to
visitors, and international interaction.

Criteria No. 4 – Livability

↪ It is indicated by the city’s working environment, cost of living, security and safety, well-being, and ease of
living.
Criteria No. 5 – Environment
↪ It is indicated by the city’s ecology, air quality, and natural environment.

Criteria No. 6 – Accessibility

↪ It is indicated by the international transportation network, transportation infrastructure, inner-city
transportation services, and traffic convenience of the city.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GLOBAL CITY

1. Economic Significance: Global cities serve as major financial hubs and have a significant impact
on the global economy. They attract multinational corporations, financial institutions, and
international trade.
2. Cultural Diversity: These cities are melting pots of diverse cultures and backgrounds, often
characterized by a cosmopolitan atmosphere. They offer a rich tapestry of languages, cuisines, arts,
and traditions.
3. Advanced Infrastructure: Global cities have well-developed and modern infrastructure, including
transportation systems, communication networks, and technological advancements.
4. Global Connectivity: They are highly connected to other cities and regions around the world
through extensive air and sea links, making them important nodes in the global transportation
network.
5. International Events: These cities frequently host international conferences, events, and summits,
attracting people from all over the world to exchange ideas and foster collaborations.
6. Innovation and Research: Global cities are centers of innovation, research, and development.
They host prestigious universities, research institutions, and technological companies.
7. Political Influence: Global cities often have significant political clout at regional, national, and
international levels, influencing policies and global affairs.
8. High Standard of Living: They offer a high standard of living with access to various amenities,
entertainment, and recreational options.
9. Global Media Presence: Global cities are home to influential media organizations, shaping global
news and information dissemination.
10. Globalized Workforce: The cities attract a highly skilled and diverse workforce from around the
world, creating a globalized labor market.

CHALLENGES:
● High cost of housing
● Long working hours
● Competitive and precarious labor market
● Residential hyper-mobility
● Long commuting times
● Multiculturalism due to diversity of neighbors

Introduction to Global Population

The United Nations Population Funds (2022) announce the following

significant statistics:
1. Eight countries – India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia,
Tanzania, the Philippines, and Egypt – will account for more than half of the projected total
population increase by 2050;
 2. India has already surpassed China as the world’s most populous nation as of 2023, according to
United Nations estimates;
3. 61 countries are projected to experience a population increase (Population Matters, 2023).

● Trends are found based on data from the global population.

Rapid population increase is one of the obstacles to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and
enhancing the population’s education and health.
- The UN’s Least Developed Countries are expected to have an increase in population from just over
1 billion to 1.76 billion by 2050, which is largely due to poverty.
- With high fertility rates in the majority of African nations, Sub-Saharan Africa will contribute
significantly up to the next century.
- Increases in healthcare access, rising life expectancy, and falling child mortality, the region’s high
fertility rate result in a large number of people entering their childbearing years.

● What are carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions?

- Carbon dioxide emissions are those stemming from the burning of fossil fuels and the
manufacture of cement. They include carbon dioxide produced during consumption of solid,
liquid, and gas fuels and gas flaring.
● What will happen if there are uncontrolled carbon dioxide consumption emissions?
- More greenhouse gases in the atmosphere: Carbon dioxide traps heat, and higher
emissions contribute to a stronger greenhouse effect, leading to a rise in global
temperatures.

● Although the Global South has a faster rate of population increase, wealthier nations have higher
rates of consumption, resource use, and carbon emissions.
● The size of families and population in those areas are equally essential because each individual’s
environment impact in rich countries is far bigger than in poor countries.
- Total fertility rate, which is the average number of births per woman over the course of her lifetime,
shows how the size of families is evolving.

Factors Influencing the Population Growth

• Fertility rates
• Increasing longevity
• International migration

1. Fertility rates
↪ Global fertility is predicted to decline from 2.3 to 2.1 children per woman by 2050, having a
significant impact on future population growth (World Population Prospects, 2022).
 2. Increasing longevity
↪ Globally, the life expectancy at birth is predicted to rise from 72.8 years in 2019 to 77.2 years in
2050, but there will still be significant regional differences.
↪ Due to high rates of infant and maternal mortality, violence, war, and the HIV epidemic, the least
developed nations have a life expectancy that is 7 years lower than the average for the world.
3. International migration
↪ Migration can significantly affect population size in nations that send or receive substantial
numbers of economic migrants and refugees.

According to the International Organization for Migration of the United Nations, there were 281 million
international migrants in 2020, which means that 3.6% of the world’s population did not reside in their
country of birth.
- Europe and Asia have the most international migrants
- The United States has more international migrants than any other country
- The number of displaced people in the world rose to a new high of 89.4 million in 2020
- Note: Internally displaced people are migrants who were forced to leave their homes because of
conflict, violence, or other disasters but still live in their country of birth.
- Asylum seekers and refugees are international migrants. The UN counts globally displaced
Venezuelans who have not applied for asylum or refugee status separately (United Nations, 2022).

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development - an attempt to satisfy present demands without compromising the capacity of
future generations to satisfy their own needs (World Commission on Environment and Development in
1987).
- It is a comprehensive strategy for growth that takes into account environmental, social, and
economic concerns (Thomsen, 2013; Brown, 2017).

WHY IS IT ESSENTIAL?
- The survival of humanity depends on sustainable development because it prevents us from using
resources more quickly than they can be generated.

Three Pillars of Sustainable Development

1. Economic sustainability refers to the ability of an economy to maintain and improve its standard
of living over time.
2. Social sustainability ensures that all members of society have access to basic needs and
services, such as education, healthcare, and food security.
3. Environmental sustainability involves the responsible use of natural resources and protecting the
environment for future generations.

Why is it necessary to balance the three pillars for sustainable development?

↪ While focusing solely on economic growth can lead to social injustice and environmental degradation,
focusing solely on social sustainability can cause economic stagnation and environmental damage.
↪ Governments, businesses, and civil society must collaborate to achieve the balance between the three
pillars required for sustainable development (Purvis et al., 2018).

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

❖ The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) provide a framework for action, and the United Nations
highlighted sustainable development as a crucial global goal in 2015.
❖ All UN members are urged to work toward achieving the SDGs, which have three main focuses: the
environment, society, and economics (Jones et al., 2017).
❖ The SDGs aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity
by 2030.
❖ Sustainable development is not just a goal but a necessity for our planet’s survival and future
generations’ well-being (UN, 2021).

Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable vs. Non-renewable Energy Sources

❖ Solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy are examples of renewable energy sources, essential for
achieving a sustainable future.
❖ These sources are clean, plentiful, and unrenewable, in contrast to fossil fuels (coal, natural gas) that
release greenhouse gases and accelerate climate change.

Circular Economy and Importance of Reducing Waste

❖ A production and consumption paradigm known as the “circular economy” strives to renew natural
systems, reduce waste and pollution, and extend the useful like of resources.
❖ The traditional linear economy, which relies on extracting raw resources to generate items that are then
utilized and disposed of as waste, differs from the circular economy in that it is a “take-make-dispose”
economic model (Figure 4).