Green Cities: Are We There Yet?

As we stand at the crossroads of rapid urbanization and escalating environmental crises, the question of how to build sustainable cities has never been more urgent. Today, over 56% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and by 2050, this number is expected to surge to nearly 70%​. Cities are undeniably the engines of economic growth, generating more than 80% of the world’s GDP​. However, they are also at the epicentre of the climate crisis, responsible for over 70% of global carbon emissions​. This duality—cities as both the drivers of growth and the largest contributors to environmental degradation—makes sustainable urban development one of the most pressing challenges of our time. As we look ahead to the future of urban living, the pressing question remains: how can cities evolve to meet the needs of their residents while safeguarding the planet? The answer lies in the growing movement toward sustainable urban development.

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities was established by the United Nations to address these challenges. It emphasizes creating cities that are safe, resilient, and inclusive, while mitigating environmental damage. But why is it crucial to discuss this now? Because the decisions we make today about how we build and grow our cities will define the world’s future for generations to come.

Natural disasters, such as heatwaves in cities like Athens and Paris, remind us that urban centers are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change​​. During the intense CLEON heatwave in July 2023, Athens experienced dangerously high temperatures that exceeded 41°C, leading to widespread health and safety concerns. Many residents, particularly the elderly and those without access to air conditioning, struggled to cope with the heat. CLEON was classified at the highest level, prompting the city to mobilize resources and offer public safety recommendations to protect vulnerable populations. As a result, the government mobilized emergency cooling centers, provided public guidance, and distributed water to help residents stay hydrated and safe. Without adequate planning, these cities—and many more around the world—risk becoming uninhabitable. Meanwhile, the rapid growth of informal settlements in places like Lagos and Dhaka highlights the need for more equitable urban development to ensure that all citizens, not just the affluent, benefit from sustainable living solutions​.

SDG 11 provides a roadmap for addressing these interconnected issues. It encourages cities to adopt inclusive urban policies, invest in green infrastructure, and embrace smart technologies to optimize resource use and reduce carbon footprints.

The Urbanization Boom and Its Challenges

The rapid rise of urban populations has presented cities with a set of unprecedented challenges. Cities generate more than 80% of global GDP, yet they also account for over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. ​This dichotomy underscores the need for cities to develop in ways that promote environmental sustainability without sacrificing economic growth.

Nearly 1 billion urban residents live in these informal communities, often in conditions of poverty and without access to basic services such as clean water and sanitation​. As cities continue to sprawl, this unplanned growth usually leads to increased pollution, inadequate public transportation, limited access to open spaces, expanding informal settlements, where over a billion people live in poverty, and a higher demand for energy—pressures that unsustainable urban forms exacerbate.

Urban growth is accelerating globally, especially in regions like Africa and Asia, where populations are rapidly moving to cities in search of opportunities. This shift has major implications, with only 37% of urban areas worldwide served by public transport and less than 52% of the population having access to nearby open spaces.

A sustainable urban vision includes green roofs, solar panels, clean public transit, and vibrant community areas—all elements that help reduce emissions, promote resilience, and foster inclusivity. Waste management, too, remains a critical need; while global waste collection exceeds 70%, only about 55% of waste is properly managed. Developing regions face unique challenges, with informal settlements lacking sufficient resources and infrastructure, further highlighting the disparities between wealthy and lower-income neighborhoods. The urgency of climate and health impacts—rising temperatures, pollution, and increased disease rates—makes it clear that sustainable urban development isn’t just desirable; cities need to remain liveable and equitable in the coming decades.

To address these issues, urban planners are increasingly focused on integrating green, resilient, and inclusive approaches to city development. These approaches prioritize reducing emissions, and resource consumption, and creating spaces that are equitable and accessible to all residents. However, to understand the significance of this goal, we need to look at real-life examples where sustainable urban development is already reshaping communities.

Reimagining Cityscapes: Green Infrastructure as the Future

One of the most promising developments in urban sustainability is the integration of green infrastructure—an approach that uses nature-based solutions to address urban challenges. Green infrastructure includes parks, urban forests, green roofs, and other forms of vegetation that can be woven into the fabric of cities. These green spaces serve several purposes: they improve air quality, provide recreational areas, mitigate the heat island effect, and promote biodiversity.

San Francisco has been at the forefront of this movement. One of the city’s most notable initiatives is the Yes SF Urban Sustainability Challenge, launched in 2023. This challenge brought together entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders to develop solutions for revitalizing downtown San Francisco, particularly as the area struggles with low post-pandemic occupancy. The project brings together innovative solutions to meet SDG 11 goals, focusing on reducing emissions, improving waste management, and making the city more liveable. For instance, electric-powered generators are being used to replace diesel ones, cutting pollution, while off-the-grid vehicle charging stations are helping the city move toward 100% emission-free transportation. Green roofs on commercial buildings are also being introduced, which reduce energy costs and enhance the city’s environmental resilience. In addition to these environmental benefits, the initiative creates jobs and fosters community engagement, serving as a model for other cities to follow globally.

Similarly, the Clichy-Batignolles Eco-District in Paris is a model for sustainable urban redevelopment. Built on a former industrial site, the district features energy-efficient buildings, green roofs, and urban agriculture initiatives​. This holistic approach not only enhances residents’ quality of life but also helps reduce the district’s carbon footprint. Green infrastructure, such as the parks and green spaces in Clichy-Batignolles, is also a key strategy for cities to manage climate-related risks like flooding and extreme heat.

Smart City Technologies: Data-Driven Sustainability

While green infrastructure focuses on natural solutions, smart city technologies harness data and digital tools to optimize urban living. Cities like Amsterdam have taken the lead in integrating these technologies, with The Edge office building hailed as the most sustainable in the world. The building uses solar panels, advanced climate control systems, and smart lighting to minimize energy consumption.

Smart technologies also play a critical role in managing urban traffic and reducing emissions. For instance, intelligent transportation systems are designed to optimize traffic flow, reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions​. Sensors and IoT devices are now being employed in several cities to monitor resource use, such as water and electricity, allowing municipalities to adjust supply in real-time based on demand.

Beyond energy efficiency, smart technologies are improving urban resilience to climate risks. In 2023, the UrbanShift Data Dashboard was launched to help cities like Freetown, Sierra Leone, map areas of high risk for extreme heat​. By combining geospatial data with local climate models, cities can make more informed decisions about where to invest in climate resilience infrastructure. Freetown launched the Freetown Trees project to address extreme urban heat by planting over one million trees. The initiative focused on reducing the urban heat island effect, where city temperatures rise due to heat-retaining surfaces like concrete. By using data from the UrbanShift Data Dashboard, the project strategically planted trees in the most heat-affected neighborhoods. This approach not only mitigated extreme heat but also created jobs, reduced air pollution, and fostered community engagement, making it a comprehensive model for urban sustainability.

Public-Private Partnerships: Financing the Future of Sustainable Cities

Sustainable urban development requires significant financial investment, and many cities—particularly those in the Global South—face barriers in securing the funds needed for large-scale projects. Recognizing this challenge, a number of global initiatives have emerged to support cities in accessing climate finance.

In 2023, the GAP Fund helped cities like Mendoza, Argentina, access technical support for climate adaptation projects​. These projects range from school-based waste management programs to public tree management efforts. By facilitating collaborations between cities and international financial institutions, the GAP Fund is helping cities overcome financial barriers to sustainability.

Another promising development is the rise of public-private partnerships (PPP) in driving urban sustainability. In Malaysia, Forest City stands as a testament to what can be achieved when governments and private enterprises collaborate. The project, which encompasses four man-made islands, integrates renewable energy systems, eco-friendly buildings, and vast green spaces​. Forest City is not just an architectural marvel—it is also a blueprint for eco-friendly urbanization in Southeast Asia.

These partnerships are proving essential in creating scalable, sustainable solutions. The World Economic Forum’s G20 Smart Cities Alliance is one such initiative, aiming to create policy standards for smart city development across the globe​. By working with cities to implement these policies, the alliance is accelerating the adoption of sustainable urban technologies and practices worldwide.

Inclusive and Equitable Cities: Leaving No One Behind

At the heart of urban sustainability is the principle of inclusivity—the idea that all residents, regardless of income or background, should have access to the benefits of sustainable urban living. Yet, in many cities, vulnerable populations are often excluded from these advances, living in substandard conditions in informal settlements.

Addressing these disparities requires cities to take an inclusive approach to development. This means ensuring that affordable housing, reliable public transport, and basic services are available to all residents. Programs like “Todos al Parque” in Barranquilla, Colombia, demonstrate how community-led urban development can improve both social and environmental outcomes​.

In July 2023, the residents of Barranquilla, experienced a profound transformation of their urban landscape, which showcased the importance of the Sustainable Cities and Communities. The “Todos al Parque” initiative (“Everyone to the Park”), a flagship project aimed at revitalizing the city’s degraded public spaces, turned abandoned, unsafe areas into vibrant parks filled with greenery, walkways, and communal spaces​. This project didn’t just beautify the city—it also improved the residents’ quality of life, reduced crime rates, and increased the city’s resilience to climate impacts like flooding.

Cities like Barranquilla are growing at rapid rates, and without thoughtful, sustainable urban planning, they can become overwhelmed by problems such as pollution, overcrowding, and social inequality. By creating accessible, green public spaces, Barranquilla’s initiative addressed many of these issues at once, offering residents safe, inclusive places to gather while promoting environmental sustainability.

Similarly, Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is an example of how sustainable urban planning can create spaces that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable. Masdar City is designed to be a carbon-neutral urban area that incorporates pedestrian-friendly streets, renewable energy systems, and efficient water management strategies​. Its emphasis on social inclusion ensures that the benefits of urban sustainability are shared equitably.

Maimunah Mohd Sharif’s Vision for Sustainable, Inclusive Cities In line with such efforts, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, has been at the forefront of driving sustainable urban development through a variety of impactful global initiatives. For example, in 2018, Sharif established a partnership with Think City, a Malaysian NGO, to foster community-centric urban regeneration. This collaboration aims to promote equitable economic growth and sustainability within urban areas by enhancing local knowledge exchange and capacity building in urban planning and design.

Additionally, at COP28, Sharif led efforts to highlight the importance of grassroots climate action. She co-chaired the Local Climate Action Summit in Dubai alongside Michael Bloomberg, bringing together local leaders, NGOs, and youth organizations to explore localized solutions for climate adaptation. Through UN-Habitat’s initiatives, she has promoted sustainable urban practices, such as creating inclusive housing and safe public spaces, and emphasized the critical role that cities play in mitigating the effects of climate change.

During a visit to Bahrain in 2023, Sharif emphasized sustainable urban development through partnerships, such as a new agreement with Bahrain’s Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and FAO, focusing on afforestation and sustainable urban planning. This partnership aimed to support Bahrain’s green infrastructure goals and enhance urban resilience in the face of climate change. Additionally, UN-Habitat launched the 2022 States of Arab Cities Report, exploring urban challenges and opportunities in the Arab region, with Sharif highlighting the need for coordinated regional strategies to advance SDG 11 and foster sustainable, inclusive urban environments. She also emphasized, “Sustainable development and urban infrastructure are at the heart of creating resilient and sustainable cities. We must all work together to create a better future for all”.

Sharif has also been a vocal advocate for incorporating nature-based solutions and efficient urban planning to achieve sustainable city development, targeting both environmental and social equity goals. She has urged financial institutions and the private sector to view urban investments as economic opportunities and essential contributions to ecological, social, and governance (ESG) objectives, aligning with the larger climate and urban resilience agenda at COP28.

Sharif’s passionate advocacy for sustainable urban growth shows that creating safe, inclusive cities is something we can all contribute to—not just governments or organizations. From financial institutions to everyday citizens, everyone has a role in building greener, healthier cities. Your actions today shape the cities of tomorrow. Now is the time to act. Whether through small personal choices or larger, community-driven initiatives, we all play a part in moving sustainability forward.

If you’re wondering how you can make a difference in creating more sustainable cities and communities, there are plenty of simple steps you can take in your daily life. Every small action adds up, and together, we can help create cities that are greener, safer, and more inclusive for everyone.

One of the easiest ways to contribute is by using public transport, walking, or biking whenever possible. This reduces traffic and lowers emissions, which makes our cities cleaner and less congested. If you’re already doing that—great! You’re helping to make your city more liveable.

Another meaningful step is to reduce your energy consumption. Simple things like turning off lights when you leave a room, unplugging devices, or using energy-efficient appliances can make a real difference. If you have the option, switching to renewable energy sources for your home is a fantastic way to support sustainability.

You can also get involved locally. Join or support community efforts like tree planting or urban gardening projects. These initiatives help create more green spaces, improve air quality, and bring people together in your neighborhood. Not only do they beautify the area, but they also create habitats for wildlife and contribute to a healthier environment for everyone.

Reducing waste is another powerful way to help. Try to be mindful about how much you throw away. Whether it’s composting, recycling, or just being more intentional about what you buy, these small actions help lessen the strain on city waste systems and reduce pollution.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to speak up! Advocate for sustainable urban policies in your community—whether it’s pushing for more public transport options, green spaces, or affordable housing. Your voice can help influence positive change in your city.

These are just a few ways to get started. Each of these steps may seem small, but together, they contribute to a bigger movement toward making our cities healthier, greener, and more livable for everyone. Let’s all play our part!

-Editorial Team