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Why do we need sustainable cities and communities?
The world’s population is constantly increasing. To accommodate everyone, we need to build modern, sustainable cities. For all of us to survive and prosper, we need new, intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions.
Facts and Figures
Half of humanity – 3.5 billion people – lives in cities today and 5 billion people are projected to live in cities by 2030.
Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health.
The world’s cities occupy just 3 per cent of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80 per cent of energy consumption and 75 per cent of carbon emissions.
Cities have the potential to either dissipate the distribution of energy or optimise their efficiency by reducing energy consumption and adopting green – energy systems. For instance, Rizhao, China has turned itself into a solar – powered city; in its central districts, 99% of households already use solar water heaters.
828 million people live in slums today and the number keeps rising
Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health.
By 2050 70 per cent of the world population is predicted to live in urban settlements.
TARGETS
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accesible and sustainable transport system for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations women, childeren persons with disabilities and older persons.
By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
Support positive economic, social and environmenal links between urban, periurban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional devolopment planning.
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and devolop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
Support least devoloped countries, including through financial and technicial assistance, in building sustainable and resillent buildings utilizing local materials.
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