Skip to main content

Introduction: Megacities in Latin America as Risk Habitat

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Risk Habitat Megacity

Abstract

While the world has stepped into the century of cities, the emergence of the megacity is perhaps the most visible expression of the mega-trend urbanization. This introductory chapter discusses some features that characterize the megacity beyond its extraordinary population size. Furthermore, it outlines the main objectives of this book, discusses the key concepts risk, sustainability and governance and further elaborates on why and to what extent megacities are places of opportunities and risks. The chapter describes the geographical focus – Latin America – with Santiago de Chile as an anchor city and closes with a brief overview of the book.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adger, N. W. (2006). Vulnerability. Global Environmental Change, 16, 268–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beaverstock, J. V., Smith, R. G., & Taylor, P. J. (1999). A roster of world cities. Cities, 16(6), 445–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bettencourt, L. M. A., Lobo, J., Helbing, D., Kuhnert, C., & West, G. B. (2007). Growth, innovation, scaling and the pace of life in cities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS), 104, 7301–7306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borsdorf, A., & Hidalgo, R. (2007). New dimensions of social exclusion in Latin America: from gated communities to gated cities, the case of Santiago de Chile. Land Use Policy, 25, 153–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronger, D. (1996). Megastädte. Geographische Rundschau, 48(5), 74–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Mattos, C. (2002). Mercado metropolitano de trabajo y desigualdades socials en el Gran Santiago. Una ciudad dual? EURE, 28(85), 51–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demeritt, D. (2002). What is the 'social construction of nature'? A typology and a sympathetic critique. Progress in Human Geography, 26(6), 767–790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eash, C., Jasny, P. R., Roberts, L., Stone, R., & Sugden, A. M. (2008). Reimagining cities. Science, 319, 339–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebert, A., Welz, J., Heinrichs, D., Krellenberg, K., & Hansjürgens, B. (2010). Socio-environmental change and flood risks: the case of Santiago de Chile. Erdkunde, 64(4), 303–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ECLAC (2000). From rapid urbanization to the consolidation of human settlements in Latin America and the Caribbean. A territorial perspective. Santiago de Chile: ECLAC.

    Google Scholar 

  • ECLAC (2005). Social panorama of Latin America. Santiago de Chile: ECLAC/CEPAL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedmann, J. (1986). The world city hypothesis. Development and Change, 17, 69–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimm, N. B., Faeth, S. H., Golubiewski, N. E., Redman, C. L., & Wu, J. G. (2008). Global change and the ecology of cities. Science, 319, 756–760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gurjar, B. R., & Lelieveld, J. (2005). New directions. Megacities and global change. Atmospheric Environment, 39, 391–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, P. (1996). The world cities. London: World University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansjürgens, B., Heinrichs, D., & Kuhlicke, C. (2008). Mega-urbanization, risk and social vulnerability. In K. Warner (Ed.), Megacities: Social vulnerability and resilience building (pp. 20–28). Summer Academy for Social Vulnerability. United Nations University UNU EHS and Munich Re Foundation, UNU Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardoy, J., Mitlin, D., & Satterswaite, D. (2001). Environmental problems in third world cities. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrichs, D., Kuhlicke, C., Meyer, V., & Hansjürgens, B. (2009). Mehr als nur Bevölkerung: Größe, Geschwindigkeit und Komplexität als Herausforderung für die Steuerung Megastädten. In U. Altrock, R. Kunze, E. Pahl-Weber, & D. Schubert (Eds.), Jahrbuch Stadterneuerung (pp.47–57). Arbeitskreis Stadterneuerung an deutschsprachigen Hochschulen und dem Institut für Stadt- und Regionalplanung der Technischen Universität Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2010). World disaster report. Geneva: Focus on urban risk.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, F. (1921). Risk, uncertainty, and profit. New York: Houghton Mifftlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mc Donald, R. I., Kareira, P., & Formana, R. T. T. (2008). The implication of current and future urbanization for global protected areas and biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation, 141, 1695–1703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mc Granahan, G., Balk, D., & Anderson, B. (2007). The rising tide: assessing the risks of climate change and human settlements in low elevation coastal zones. Environment and Urbanization, 19(1), 17–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, J. K. (Ed.) (1999). Crucibles of hazard. Megacities and disasters in transition. Tokyo: UN University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgommery, M. R., Stren, R., Cohen, B., & Reed, H. E. (Eds.) (2003). Cities transformed – Demographic change and its implications in the developing world. London: National Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • MRC Mc Lean Hazel and GlobeScan (2007). Megacities und ihre Herausforderungen. München.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munich Re Group (2004). Megacities – Megarisks. Trends and challenges for insurance and risk management. München: Munich Re Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (2009). Driving and the built environment: The effects on of compact developments on motorized travel, energy use, and CO2 emissions. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Keefe, P., Westgate, K., & Wisner, B. (1976). Taking the naturalness out of natural disasters. Nature, 260, 566–567.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelling, M. (2003). The vulnerability of cities – Natural disasters and social resilience. London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puente, S. (1999). Social vulnerability to disasters in Mexico City – An assessment method. In J. K. Mitchel (Ed.), Crucibles of hazards. Mega-cities and disasters in transition (pp. 295–334). Tokyo/New York/Paris: United Nations University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quigley, J. M. (1998). Urban diversity and economic growth. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 12(2), 127–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Research, D. B. (2008). Megacitys: Wachstum ohne Grenzen? Aktuelle Themen, 412, 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, J. (2002). Distribución territorial de la población de América Latina y el Caribe: tendencias, interpretaciones y desafíos para las políticas públicas. Población y Desarrollo del Centro Latinoamericano y Caribeño de Demografía (CELADE) – División de Población. Serie 32, Santiago de Chile.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, J. (2008). Spatial distribution of the population, internal migration and development in Latin America and the Caribbean. Proceedings of the United Nations expert group meeting on population distribution, urbanization, internal migration and development New York, 21–23 January 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassen, S. (1991). The global city. New York/London/Tokio/Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sassen, S. (2002). Locating cities on global circuits. Environment and Urbanization, 14(1), 13–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TEEB (2010). The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for local and regional policy makers. Edited by Wittmer H. and H. Gundimeda. www.teebweb.org

  • UN HABITAT (2006). State of the world’s cities 2006/2007. The millennium development goals and urban sustainability. London.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Population Division (2002). World urbanization prospects. The 2001 Revision. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Population Division (2004). World urbanization prospects. The 2003 Revision. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Population Division (2006). World Urbanization Prospects. The 2005 Revision. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Population Division (2007). World urbanization prospects. The 2006 Revision. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Population Division (2008). World urbanization prospects. The 2007 Revision. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, Ch, & Lay, L. W. Ch. (2003). Property rights, planning and markets. Managing spontaneous cities. Cheltenham/Northampton: Edward.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weichselgartner, J. (2001). Disaster mitigation: The concept of vulnerability revisited. Disaster Prevention and Management, 10(2), 85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, G. F. (1945). Human adjustment to floods: A geographical approach to the flood problem in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisner, B. (1999). There are worse things than earthquakes: Hazard vulnerability and mitigation capacity in Greater Los Angeles. In J. K. Mitchell (Ed.), Crucibles of hazards. Mega-cities and disasters in transition (pp. 375–427). Tokyo/New York/Paris: United Nations University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wisner, B., Blaikie, P., & Cannon, T. (2005). At risk. Natural hazards, people's vulnerability, and disasters. London/New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung globale Umweltveränderungen (WBGU) (1996). Welt im Wandel: Wege zur Lösung globaler Umweltprobleme – Jahresgutachten 1995. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Water Assessment Programme (2009). The United Nations world water development report 3: Water in a changing world. Paris: UNESCO Publishing, and London: Earthscan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, O. R., Berkhout, F., Gallophin, G. C., Janssen, M. A., Ostrom, E., & Van der Leeuw, S. (2006). The globalization of socio-ecological systems: An agenda for scientific research. Global Environmental Change, 16(3), 304–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dirk Heinrichs .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Heinrichs, D., Krellenberg, K., Hansjürgens, B. (2012). Introduction: Megacities in Latin America as Risk Habitat. In: Heinrichs, D., Krellenberg, K., Hansjürgens, B., Martínez, F. (eds) Risk Habitat Megacity. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11544-8_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11544-8_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-11543-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-11544-8

  • eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsEconomics and Finance (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics