Again, it is the urban poor who are particularly endangered by environmental degradation and pollution. This is being recognized by local authorities all over the world. Sustainable development in the twenty-first century will, to a large degree, depend upon how cities, towns and villages everywhere interact with the environment and utilize natural resources. Increasing Awareness of Gender Issues Women and men use and experience cities differently, according to their roles, responsibilities and access to resources. For example, when basic services are lacking in a settlement, more often than not it is women who take on responsibilities such as water collection and refuse disposal.
Women often have unequal access to resources such as property, credit, training and technology.
All of these factors must be addressed urgently, as they make it harder for women to improve their living standards and those of their children. As cities become larger and more densely populated, they become increasingly vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters such as earthquakes, floods, industrial hazards, epidemics, civil strife and wars. As a result, they are most likely to lose their homes or their lives when disasters occur. Better planning, access to affordable urban land, and improved construction methods can reduce the extent of catastrophes. In the preparations for Habitat II, many different partners are drafting and debating the elements of the conference document, the Habitat Agenda, which will comprise a Statement of Principles and Commitments, and a Global Plan of Action to be adopted by the Conference.