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In September 2015, members of the UN Sustainable Development Summit adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Goal 11 is Sustainable Cities and Communities and is about making cities and human settlements sustainable. Outline one or two of the key challenges to the success of sustainable cities and the most effective solutions. You may wish to relate the challenges and solutions to your specific subject area and/or to a specific city/cities or area of the world.  

The UN Sustainable Development Summit strive on making the global cities a better place to live in. A sustainable city is one that is planned to have a resilient environment for its current population while also taking into account the quality of life for future generations. The rapid urbanization and the unplanned growth are the two key challenges to the success of sustainable cities. The term "urbanization" describes the large-scale population shift from rural to urban areas and the resulting physical modifications to urban areas [Kuddus et al. Public Health Reviews, 2020]. Countries like France, Cuba, and Netherland have made efforts to make their environment better for the future but it’s a global issue as countries like Indonesia, India face adverse effects of bad planning.

The consequences of increasing urbanization causes many problems particularly for the poor. For instance, rapid urbanization disrupts residential growth, leading to the formation of informal settlements and slums that are not owned by the nation. A lot of rural migrants move to urban slum areas with their families, bringing with them domesticated animals of all kinds, including livestock and pets. Because of their limited resources, the urban poor eat with less nutrition then needed, which can lead to illnesses. All migrants become susceptible to infectious diseases that are circulating and have the potential to create an urban transmission cycle as a result of this inflow of people and animals. In addition, the majority of urban poor people reside in uncontrolled slums that are crowded, dirty, close to open sewers, and limited to dangerous physical locations like hillsides, riverbanks, and water basins that are vulnerable to flooding, landslides, or industrial hazards. All of these factors lead to the spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases, pollution, poor nutrition, road traffic, and so on. In slums, unsanitary conditions are frequently the main source of health issues. It has affected not just health but also lifestyle, economic growth, and growth in general [Pathways to sustainable cities, 2022].

Lahore, one of Pakistan's cities, has become the second most polluted city in the world with the worst breathable air due to the country's fast urbanization and India’s traditional practices of burning the dead bodies leading to unbreathable air. The World Health Organization's estimates of deaths related to indoor and outdoor air pollution highlight the urgent need for measures [Kuddus et al. Public Health Reviews, 2020].  The consequences, such as respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases, do not discriminate between the rich and the poor.

There is a need to implement integrated urban planning as an effective solution to urbanization that considers environmental, social and economic factors. This requires master comprehensive city plans that promote mixed land use, efficient transportation systems, green spaces, affordable housing. Integrated planning helps to manage urban growth and ensures that cities are designed in ways that are sustainable and resilient. Using technology make cities energy efficient.

For slums, initiating development plans to increase the standard of the living is a solution. Infrastructure of the house, clean drinking water and cleanliness in that area will not only make it a liveable place but also integrate those informal settlements into planned urban area. Providing healthcare and education facilities will play a major role. Make and put into effect policies for affordable homes. This includes government-led initiatives to offer subsidised homes for low-income individuals.

Nowadays, Internet of Things (IoT) is used to maximise energy usage and transportation system. For example, in Pakistan, citizens are now using IoT based agriculture systems, it helps in good crop and livestock production. Smart cameras on highways in United Arab Emirates, are used to detect speeding vehicles, which improves not only safety but also keeps the government updated about growth, vehicles, economical data and so on.

Unplanned Growth is the expansion of urban or rural areas without conforming to government policies or any decent systematic approach. It does not follow any calculated strategy for urbanization that results in slums, insufficient land usage and no cohesion. It causes congestion in transportation. Growing population and its traffic becomes difficult to handle in such cases. It also makes the city vulnerable to natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.

The 1972 Stockholm Declaration, underscore the persistent struggle to balance urban growth with environmental and social well-being [Pathways to sustainable cities, 2022]. In Jakarta, Indonesia, the vast growth of unplanned population and urban planning has caused the soil to compact. As Indonesia sits on the tectonic plates, high movement above it has given a tough time to its land.

Green infrastructure and urban agriculture are two examples of nature-based solutions that offer practical ways to fight climate change and increase resilience. Furthermore, equity concerns are becoming more and more important, with an emphasis on inclusive urban planning that resolves past injustices and fosters social cohesion. It is imperative to have a multifaceted and inclusive strategy to tackle these issues.

In Green infrastructure, examining urban water management yields numerous examples: China is promoting the growth of "sponge cities," New York City is revitalising oyster reefs, while Seoul and other cities are bringing back to life water streams that had been hidden behind decades of concrete. Instead of depending solely on mechanical engineering, these communities make use of natural infrastructure to accomplish a number of goals, including improving flood control, offering leisure opportunities, and promoting biodiversity. They can lessen the impact of flooding and the urban heat island effect. Not only are plants utilised on rooftops and the ground, but architects and city dwellers are also experimenting with vertical gardens, which they utilise on facades. In a similar vein, industrial infrastructure and urban wastelands are being renatured to support urban biodiversity.

Since they are able to take action inside their own borders, local governments are the main actors in promoting urban sustainability. Policies guaranteeing planned urban spaces and encouraging eco-friendly transit options help address environmental problems. Enhancing food security requires cooperative planning between rural and urban areas, with subsidies for inexpensive, locally produced, unprocessed food. To lessen wealth disparities among urban residents, social protection and universal health coverage are advised. This entails the creation of primary healthcare facilities that are open to everyone, including those living in urban slums.

Rees emphasises the transforming potential of cities as the source of hope. More sustainable living that accommodates a larger population while having a smaller environmental impact can result from effective urban design. By spearheading projects like heat networks, the use of renewable energy, and circular waste management, cities may pave the way for the development healthy environment. According to him, it is recommended a concerted legislative strategy to reroute subsidies to renewable energy sources that includes carbon pricing and government involvement [Rees, 2022].

Overcoming obstacles between various governmental levels and special interests concerned in maintaining the status quo is necessary in the pursuit of sustainable cities. To address the connections between urban and rural areas, promote circular resource usage, and decarbonise the building, transportation, and energy sectors. With their density, flexibility, and close proximity to leaders, cities are essential in tackling the world's climate emergency. Urban sustainability requires cross-sectoral planning and sensitivity to the specific needs of every urban resident in order to guarantee that no one is left behind in this crucial transformation.

 

References:

Text 2_Kuddus et al.2020_Urbanisation_A Problem for the Rich and Poor

Text 1_Bansard 2022_Pathways to Sustainable Cities (1)

Text 3 Transcript - Rees - Science Stream