ABSTRACT
The role and importance of cities in a global context is changing. Cities are assuming prominence in our social and economic systems and are having a growing impact on the environmental condition of the planet. As cities grow in population, area and relevance, the need for resources to support them creates new stresses that are being manifested at a global scale. The complexities of urban systems are also creating challenges for urban residents that are affecting health, safety and quality of life. The tension that exists between local and global and the prospect for changing the current dynamic is emerging as an important arena for global discourse.
