Megacities could help 'save the world'

NEW YORK - A global explosion of urban growth and the rise of the megacity could help resolve some of the world's deepest problems, from overpopulation to environmental devastation.

In an upbeat assessment, senior international business and political figures told a forum in New York that along with the obvious challenges, they saw huge opportunities in the rush to urbanization.

In 1800, just 3 percent of the world lived in urban areas. Today that figure has passed 50 percent and by 2050 it will likely reach 70 percent, with cities like New York, Mexico City, Moscow and Shanghai growing exponentially.