Week 7

Video

In this 11-minute video made available from the SDG Academy, Jeffrey Sachs provides an overview of the importance of cities, the challenges they bring, and the work required to achieve sustainable development for urban areas.

Analysis

Cities are vital contributors to prosperity and people’s standard of living[1]. The world is becoming increasingly urbanized. Since 2007, more than half the world’s population has been living in cities, which is projected to rise to 60% by 2030 (2). Cities and metropolitan areas are powerhouses of economic growth, contributing about 60% of global GDP. They are places where dynamic economic, cultural, and social exchanges converge to support economic performance and social progress1. However, they also account for about 70% of global carbon emissions and over 60% of resource use.

Cities are key engines for the growing knowledge economy. Rapid urbanization is resulting in a growing number of slums globally, with inadequate and overburdened infrastructure and services (such as waste collection and water and sanitation systems, roads, and transport), worsening air pollution and unplanned urban sprawl[2]. Decision makers need to plan for economic growth in this competitive environment, while at the same time ensuring their communities are safe and livable, provide opportunities and a positive quality of life for diverse, growing populations. They will need to manage a built environment that is under continual pressure to grow and improve while addressing the pressing issues of climate change and environmental sustainability.

In Canada, more than 82% of the population live in cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas. Canadian cities are competing globally for people, technological leadership and capital investment, however, Canadians are among the highest per capita carbon emitters countries in the world[3].

The impact of COVID-19 will be most devastating in poor and densely populated urban areas, especially for the one billion people living in informal settlements and slums worldwide, where overcrowding also makes it difficult to follow recommended measures such as social distancing and self-isolation2. The UN food agency warned that hunger and fatalities could rise significantly in urban areas, without measures to ensure that poor and vulnerable residents have access to food2.

Fast Facts

  • Half of all humanity, 3.5 billion people live in cities today, with 5 billion people projected to live in cities by 2030;
  • The world’s cities occupy just 3% of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80% of energy consumption and generate 75% of human-induced greenhouse gas including carbon emissions;
  • Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health;
  • 95% of urban expansion in the next decades will take place in developing regions;
  • 828 million people (14% of global population) live in slums, and most of them are found in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia;
  • 90% of urban growth is forecasted to happen in Asia and Africa in the next 30 years;
  • By 2050, 70% of the world population is predicted to live in urban settlements.

Why it Matters

Why should I care about Sustainable cities and communities?

Over 4 billion people, half of the global population, living in the world’s cities face worsening air pollution, and inadequate infrastructure and services. This situation is true for developed and developing countries, with these issues affecting all global citizens. Pollution deteriorates everyone’s health and affects economic productivity and therefore all economies.

Targets and Indicators for Canada

Below is Canada’s approach to measuring progress on SDG #11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities. Note the targets and indicators chosen[4].

Goal 11 Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Canadian Ambition: Canadians have access to quality housing Targets Indicators T11.1.1 Reduce chronic homelessness by at least 31% by March 2024 I11.1.1 Growth rate of people experiencing chronic homelessness Source: Employment and Social Development Canada. Custom tabulation T11.2.1 No specific target I11.2.1 Proportion of households in core housing need Source: Statistics Canada. Table 46-10-0046-01 Households living with housing problems, by selected housing-vulnerable populations and core housing need including adequacy, affordability and suitability standards

Canadian Ambition: Canadians live in healthy, accessible, and sustainable cities and communities Targets Indicators T11.3.1 Increase the percentage of Canadians living in areas where air pollutants concentrations are less or equal to the standards from 60% in 2005 to 85% in 2030 I11.3.1 Percentage of the population living in areas where air pollutants concentrations are less or equal to the 2020 Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards Note: corresponds to the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators “Population exposure to outdoor air pollutants” Sources: Environment and Climate Change Canada. Air Quality Research Division; Health Canada. Air Health Effects Assessment Division T11.4.1 No specific target I11.4.1 Percentage of the population living within 500 meters of a public transport stop Source: Statistics Canada. Table 23-10-0286-01 Proximity to Public Transportation in Canada’s Metropolitan Cities, and related Commuting Data T11.5.1 By 2030, 22% of commuters adopt shared or active transportation I11.5.1 Percentage of the population using shared or active transportation for commuting Source: Statistics Canada. Table 23-10-0286-01 Proximity to Public Transportation in Canada’s Metropolitan Cities, and related Commuting Data T11.6.1 No specific target I11.6.1 Total waste disposal per capita Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 38-10-0032-01 Disposal of waste, by source; Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0005-01 Population estimates on July 1st, by age and sex T11.7.1 No specific target I11.7.1 Percentage of the population aged 12 and over who reported their sense of belonging to their local community as being very strong or somewhat strong Source: Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0096-01 Health characteristics, annual estimates

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Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Copyright © by Jocelyn Baker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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