Sustainable Development in Peri-Urban Regions: Comparison
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The recent tendency towards overpopulated cities has created an increased demand for the expansion of borders towards rural areas. This has modified the city–countryside relationship, giving rise to the concept of peri-urbanity. Based on these assumptions, this research paper aims to highlight the role and importance of sustainable development for the sustained progress of peri-urban regions, particularly by looking at international standards proposed by the United Nations.

  • sustainability
  • peri-urban regions
  • job creation
  • tourism

1. Introduction

In order to accommodate population growth in metropolitan areas, there are growing concerns in maintaining the security of quality of living. Cities all around the world are continuing to experience significant urban expansion [1]. As a consequence, many individuals have started to migrate to peri-urban regions, a transient and hard to define region [2].
Peri-urban areas can be described as ‘cities without cities’ or as a territorial continuity between the urban and rural [3]. Peri-urban regions are often diverse areas with a lower population density than urban areas and an attractive mix of residential, agricultural, and industrial uses [4,5][4][5]. The high level of urbanization infiltrating such areas is however endangering the productivity and usage of agriculture, environmental amenities, and natural habitats. The natural resource base and ecosystem services in the peri-urban areas around municipalities must be preserved if cities are to remain livable and sustainable in the future.
Development of peri-urban regions can lead, on the other hand, to considerable advantages, such as general economic growth, increased investments, and interest for the area. However, by definition, peri-urban regions are areas that surround cities, which cover agricultural lands and industrial objectives, and which are able to provide the necessary supply of agricultural products to the cities (especially vegetables and greens, milk, eggs, and cut flowers).
To illustrate this issue, the study has chosen a case study design formulated around the region of Bragadiru, a peri-urban area located near a municipality in Romania. The region has been subject to massive development in the last few years, witnessing substantial economic and population growth.
The Treaty on the European Union [6] establishes sustainable development as a core principle and main priority of the EU’s internal and external policies. There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) included in the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which create a framework for economic, social, environmental, and governance aspects of sustainable development [7].

2. Sustainable Regional Development

Although sustainable regional development (SRD) is a relatively new discipline, it already has a considerable body of knowledge and skill, has made enough progress in theory and practice to be acknowledged as such, and is associated with philosophical quandaries and practical issues [9][8]. The idea behind the sustainability of a region is to raise the standard of living while staying within the confines of the global environment. It entails finding ways to enhance human welfare without harming the environment or affecting the welfare of other people [10][9]. Streimikiene [11][10] defines regional sustainability as ‘the continuous support of human quality of life within a region’s ecological carrying capacity’. Economic development is believed to include sustainable development as long as certain natural resources are present in the area [10][9]. However, Streimikiene et al. [12][11] claim that economic growth should continue to be limited to what the region can sustain environmentally. Regional development includes socioeconomic processes that are organized in their unique political and cultural context, in addition to conventional policy on a specific territory [13][12].

3. Peri-Urban Regions

In recent decades, research on urban and regional periphery has begun to take on a new focus. Gottero et al. [14][13] claim that decision-makers in planning, management, and policy should recognize the peri-urban phenomenon as an inevitable fact of the twenty-first century and lay out the guidelines for directing and controlling the growth of these areas as the productive areas. As urban growth spreads into rural and industrial territory, peri-urban regional borders are permeable and ill defined. No matter how the boundaries change, peri-urban areas will always exist. Mbuligwe [15][14] illustrates how peri-urban communities, which sit at the border of urban and rural areas, combine elements of both (Figure 1).
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Figure 1. Visual representation of peri-urban regions. Source: Mbuligwe [15].
Visual representation of peri-urban regions. Source: Mbuligwe [14].
Githiri and Foster [16][15] refer to peri-urban regions as the rural–urban transition zone, where urban and rural uses coexist and frequently clash. As a result, they are perceived as a distinct landscape type that was created from the combination of urban and rural land use. Peri-urban locations tend to draw newcomers, who are likely to come from a variety of ethnic groups in terms of demographics (backgrounds). Housing in peri-urban areas often takes a variety of forms, with a generally lower quality and value than in urban areas. Compared to urban areas, the population density is probably lower, while dwelling occupancy is probably higher. Schools, hospitals, and other community facilities are typically of lower quality in these locations than in urban centers. Naturally, peri-urban income levels are lower than urban income levels [15][14]. Research frequently refers to peri-urban regions, in regard to their proximity to urban areas, as being functionally related yet located on the periphery of both urban and rural areas [17][16]. Because of this, their limits, which are already challenging to define, may constantly change as former peri-urban regions are eventually swallowed by growing cities [18,19][17][18].

4. Sustainable Regional Development in Europe

In the European Union, ‘sustainable regional development’ (SRD) refers to the application of the principles of sustainable development to regional planning. As a result, all programs and tools that support sustainable development within regional economic initiatives are included in SRD [10][9]. The United Nations’ Agenda 2030 consists of 169 goals and 17 Sustainable Development Goals and was adopted by world leaders in 2015 [8][19]. It suggests that sustainable development entails balancing the requirements of the present with those of coming generations. Economic, environmental, and social pillars are considered the main policies which people must use to cooperate and assist one another in order to achieve sustainable development [20]. World leaders have made a commitment to eradicate poverty, safeguard the environment, and guarantee that everyone lives in peace and prosperity. The European Commission claims that, in order to advance the EU’s commitment to and leadership in sustainable development, it is critical to make consistent progress toward the SDGs, engage with partner nations and civil society, and represent the Union at a high international level [7]. Romania, as a member state of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), has expressed its adherence to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/1 [21]. Goal No. 8 can be further detailed as a series of actions to be achieved by the year of 2030:
  • Continue to maintain a GDP growth rate superior to the EU average, in parallel with the application of sustainable principles and constant improvement of population living standard.
  • Promote supportive development-oriented policies to sustain productive activities, create decent jobs, and increase entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation.
  • Achieve higher levels of productivity via diversification, technological upgrades, and innovation.
  • Achieve long-term competitive tourism; development of agritourism, ecotourism, and rural, spa, and cultural tourism; and improve Romania’s image as a touristic destination. Promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
  • Full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and people with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value [5].

References

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  15. Githiri, G.; Foster, T. Mainstreaming Urban-Rural Linkages in National Urban Policies; UN Habitat: Nairobi, Kenya, 2020.
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  18. Maheshwari, B.; Singh, V.P.; Thoradeniya, B. Balanced Urban Development: Options and Strategies for Liveable Cities; Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2016.
  19. The United Nations. The 17 GOALS Sustainable Development. Available online: https://sdgs.un.org/goals (accessed on 15 March 2023).
  20. WEECOP. EU Green Deal. Available online: https://wecoop.eu/glossary/green-deal/ (accessed on 25 February 2023).
  21. Guvernul Romaniei. Strategia Națională Pentru Dezvoltarea Durabilă a României 2030. Available online: https://dezvoltaredurabila.gov.ro/ (accessed on 15 February 2023).
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