XLRI Students' Blog on Corporate Sustainability

  Topic: SDG 11 -  Sustainable Cities and Communities Group8_A | SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Introduction to the SDG The Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs) were adopted as a universal call for action in 2015 to put an end to poverty, disease (especially AIDS), and discrimination (e.g., against women and children) and to move towards a sustainable future. They are also referred to as Global Goals, and all 193 members of the UN have adopted them to ensure that every person living on the planet enjoys peace and prosperity by 2030. The 17 SDGs are not separate but integrated , keeping in mind that actions are taken in one dimension also affect others to balance socio-economic and environmental sustainability. [1] The 11 th goal is directed at building safe, sustainable cities and communities . As per data collected in 2018, around 4.2 billion people (~ 55% ) live in urban areas, and the number is expected to touch 6.5 billion (~2/3rd) by 2030. With this boo...

A Perspective from India As of today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban cities, a percentage that is estimated to grow to 60% by 2030. This rise in city dwellers has been fueled by increasing migration and rising populations. This trend towards urbanisation has gone hand in hand with rising demand for basic services, jobs, infrastructure, affordable housing, and increased pressure on the environment. The high concentration of people makes such places particularly vulnerable to natural disasters as well as climate change. Unplanned urban expansion can cause cities to spill beyond their edges and can become a hindrance to development planning. Additionally, urban cities are the main contributors to greenhouse gases that lead to climate change. Nearly half of the population living in the world’s cities breathes air that is 2.5 times more polluted than the acceptable number given by the World Health Organization. The area occupied by cities is 2% of the planet’s land...