Sustainable development seeks to create a world that is more resilient to the challenges that stand in its way, in particular the challenges of poverty, hunger, and inequality in order to protect the planet as long as possible and sustainably. One of these goals is to make cities, communities, and human settlements inclusive, safe, and resilient.
Half of the world’s population, 3.5 billion people, lives in the cities that occupy just 3 percent of the Earth’s land, consuming 60-80 percent of energy. They generate up to 70 percent of global carbon emissions, which come from human activities. [1]
Even though cities have become the primary centers for education, trade, culture, development, and production, however, it has become vulnerable to major problems such as climate change, natural disasters, and the spread of communicable diseases; the most recent of which is Covid-19. This is why “Make cities and human settlements sustainable, inclusive, safe and resilient” has become SDG 11, which the United Nations seeks to achieve in the near future.
Modern and sustainable urban planning begins by addressing cities’ problems, such as:
So, what is the main source of pollution? And what are the means to reduce it?
A question whose answer is not far from our minds, is the huge amount of gas emissions from transportation, as the shift to sustainable transportation boosts the economy and respect for the environment and issues such as health, social justice, and the link between urban and rural areas to keep them productive.
The pursuit of sustainable cities means: Achieving sustainable energy use in transportation systems, for example, trains that operate with alternative energies. Provide an attractive, safe, and pedestrian-friendly environment to reduce accidental death rates for children and the elderly. Support and encourage local communities to use bicycles and walk. [1]
Despite the role played by green spaces and public places, they are at risk due to conversion to residential housing and businesses. Without a strong commitment from Governments to preserve, protect, and value these spaces they will be lost forever.
Therefore, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, in particular for women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. Public and green spaces offer opportunities to improve health and the quality of life for all people living in cities, which will improve our psychological health, strengthen our communities, and make our cities and neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work. In addition to achieving the purpose of reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases under SDG 3 (Ensuring healthy lives) by providing places for people to be physically active.
Green spaces can help contribute to SDG 7 (Ensure energy for all) by lowering city temperatures. They help achieve balance by Cooling the air, providing shade, and absorbing air pollutants. [2]
It will be the cities that determine if we achieve inclusive economic growth or yield to greater inequality. It is in cities where people will seek opportunities for higher education and employment. And, it will be cities that determine if we will continue our steadily increasing usage of the world’s resources or if we can realize a more sustainable path. Finally, the cost of the change is small in comparison with the benefits, for example, there is a cost to create a functional public transport network, but the benefits will be huge in terms of economic activity, quality of life, environment, and the overall success of a connected city with rural as well. [1]
Also read: Sustainable Development Goal 10.
Sweden, which is an example of sustainable transportation through buses, trains, and boats, depends on renewable energy for transportation. The Swedish city of Gothenburg (göteborg), Scandinavia’s largest coastal city, is behind this initiative through a collaboration between Business Region Göteborg, Volvo Cars, and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, to create the first completely zero-emission zone.
The ‘Gothenburg Green City Zone’, an initiative that started in 2021 aims at establishing selected areas within the second largest city in Sweden, to be completely emission-free by 2030. To achieve that, Gothenburg uses a variety of climatic-neutral transportation and smart infrastructure. Some examples of techniques to be tested:
Our initiative sees a solution in the youth entrepreneurial vision that proposes real and effective alternatives to avoid the problems of cities. Such as sustainable transportation that fits with the nature of the city, recycling, and alternative vital industries.
Women are encouraged to adhere to a healthy lifestyle approach that, even if individually, will truly make a difference if we all work together. Most important of all, the initiative strives to enhance human resources and build the capabilities of individuals, as a first step in providing any solutions.
♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.
[1] UN- Sustainable Development
[2] UN- Chronicle
[3] Going Green