THE BROWN AGENDA - URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL-PROBLEMS AND POLICIES IN THE DEVELOPING-WORLD

Despite the burgeoning literature on sustainable development in the Th ird World only a small proportion has focused on the environmental pro blems of towns and cities. In this article the principal items on the recently christened 'Brown Agenda' are reviewed. Following the context ualisation of these issues in terms of the urban development process, a number of specific themes are examined. These include the nature of environmental problems in Third World cities and the relationship betw een the environment, poverty and shelter. A number of these themes are illustrated by reference to a case study of Calcutta. In the final se ction the question of how best to manage and plan the urban environmen t is examined. In particular, recent proposals by influential internat ional agencies such as the World Bank are considered.