Sustainable Cities: Why They Matter

What’s the goal here? healthcare, education— are projected must be found in city life. To make cities inclu- to live in sive, safe, resilient What are some of the and sustainable most pressing challenges cities by Why? that cities face today? Half of humanity—3.5 bil- Inequality is a big concern. 2030 lion people—live in cities 833 million people live in today, and this number slums and this number will continue to grow. keeps rising. The levels of Because the future will urban energy consumption be urban for a majority and pollution are also wor- of people, the solutions rying. Cities occupy just to some of the greatest 3 per cent of the Earth’s issues facing humans— land, but account for poverty, climate change, 60-80 per cent of energy consumption and 75 per cent of carbon emis- life expectancy. By choos- • Take notice of what sions. Many cities are also ing to act sustainably works, and what doesn’t more vulnerable to cli- we choose to build cities in your community mate change and natural where all citizens live a • Advocate for the kind of disasters due to their high decent quality of life, and city you believe you need concentration of people form a part of the city’s and location so building productive dynamic, cre- • Develop a vision for urban resilience is crucial ating shared prosperity your building, street, to avoid human, social and social stability without and neighbourhood, and and economic losses. harming the environment. act on that vision. Are there enough jobs? Are I live in a city but I’m Is it expensive to you close to healthcare? not affected by any put sustainable Can your children walk of these issues. Why practices in place? to school safely? Can you walk with your should I care? The cost is minimal in family at night? How All these issues will even- comparison with the ben- far is the nearest public tually affect every citizen. efits. For example, there transport? What’s the Inequality can lead to is a cost to creating a air quality like? What unrest and insecurity, pol- functional public transport are your shared public lution deteriorates every- network, but the bene- spaces like? The better one’s health and affects fits are huge in terms of the conditions you create workers’ productivity and economic activity, quality in your community, therefore the economy, of life, the environment, the greater the effect and natural disasters have and the overall success on quality of life. the potential to disrupt of a networked city. To find out more everyone’s lifestyles. What can I do to help about Goal #11 and What happens if achieve this goal? other Sustainable Development Goals, visit: cities are just left to • Take an active interest http://www.un.org/ in the governance and grow organically? sustainabledevelopment management of your city The cost of poorly planned urbanization can be seen in some of the huge slums, tangled traffic, green- house gas emissions and sprawling suburbs all over the world. Slums are a drag on GDP, and lower