In 2015, the United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the core of this agenda are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs which encourage global partnership and an urgent call for change. The purpose of formulating and adopting the agenda is to encourage peace and prosperity across the world. Ruthless exploitation of natural and human resources have caused a imbalance in nature as also in human society. The SDGs seek to regain this balance while promoting a better life on planet Earth.
Each of the 17 SDGs focuses on key aspects of life on the planet. Goals such as ‘No Poverty’ and ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’ emphasize on better living conditions for all. The goal for ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities‘ highlights the need for urban planning so as to offer people better habitation and to reduce the enormous pressure on the environment.
Understanding the Need for Sustainable Cities and Communities, in 2018, 55% of the world’s population lived in urban areas. The United Nations estimates that by 2050, this percentage will rise to 68%. This means that over the next three decades billions of people will move from rural parts of the world to towns and cities.
The concentration of human population in cities and rapid, and mostly unplanned, urbanization has led to cities accounting for 80% of energy consumption and 75% of the world’s carbon emissions. This pollutes the air, water and land in the cities and also affects surrounding areas.
Developing Sustainable and Better Cities
The local ecology in urban areas is threatened and there is immense pressure on the environment. The key to sustainable development of cities and communities lies in green urban planning. Instead of constructing concrete jungles, planners will focus on developing cities by using technology and resources that are sustainable. Development of green spaces, investment in renewable energy, waste management and green infrastructure are at the heart of this Sustainable Development Goal.
Cities have become vulnerable to the impact of climate change mostly due to the concentration of human population and economic activity here. They need to be developed in a manner that protects them from environmental and climate threats. And this can be achieved only when urban planning is sustainable and green.
The local ecology must be given due emphasis and should be a key factor in urban planning. With individuals, organizations and cities committing to protect the environment and complying with sustainable living guidelines, the SDGs can be achieved.
