Sustainable urban development. Cuban challenges

ABSTRACT This contribution starts with the evolution of the main theoretical approaches through the last thirty years and some key principles for urban sustainability, followed by reflections about sustainable development in Cuba as well as challenges to improve it in urban areas, and closing with some final reflections. Approaches about the sustainable city have been changing during the last three decades, but to be sustainable, a city should be holistically planned in a participatory way, taking as much advantage as possible of the urban land and guaranteeing appropriate domestic environment, by passive energy means. Advanced concepts of integral and sustainable development are not yet applied to the city in Cuba, as there is not enough awareness about its importance for economic and social development. Priorities focus on social services and not enough on housing and habitat. Changing these approaches is one of the first challenges