Implementing the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda

Abstract

The human population has been growing steadily over time; a trend that has had an increasing pressure on global resources. The population is predicted to grow further, particularly, in urban areas. According to the UN Habitat more than half of the global population now resides in cities (UN Habitat, 2014). By 2050, the urban dwellers are projected to make up over 70 per cent of the global population. Therefore, urban areas provide an important locale for addressing the social, economic, political, cultural and environmental challenges in order to capitalize on urban opportunities while mitigating the risks (UN Habitat, 2013). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were affirmed in September 2015 during the 2015 United Nations General Assembly as a universal normative development blueprint for all members ascribed to the UN Charter. Of the 17 SDGs, Goal 11 is wholly dedicated to 'Sustainable Cities and Communities: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable'. The 'urban goal' has ten attendant targets. These targets refine the focus on key areas that need urgent attention in addressing urbanization challenges worldwide. It is in these areas where policy makers assert that the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities. The identification of an urban goal is an acknowledgement that 'the current model of urbanization is unsustainable in many respects' (UN Habitat, 2016). Habitat III is the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development to take place in Quito, Ecuador from 17 to 20 October 2016. The outcome of Habitat III could be the tenet to promote all levels of human settlements including small rural communities, villages, market towns, intermediate cities and metropolises for sustainable demographic and economic. According to the UN Habitat, rethinking the Urban Agenda is: • Embracing urbanization at all levels of human settlements, more appropriate policies can embrace urbanization across physical space, bridging urban, peri-urban and rural areas and assist governments in addressing challenges through national and local development policy frameworks. • Integrating equity to the development agenda. Equity becomes an issue of social justice, ensures access to the public sphere, extends opportunities and increases the commons. Prologue Environment and Urbanization AsiA 7(2) x-xii 2016 National institute of Urban Affairs (NiUA) sAGE Publications sagepub.in/home.nav

Adapting the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda to the city level: Initial reflections from a comparative research project

“…While achieving them universally may not be feasible within the agreed timeframe, if taken seriously, they can provide an opportunity for rethinking urban planning and development in all countries with all three dimensions of sustainability (social, environmental and economic) in mind. They can also serve as an opportunity to reassess governance systems and bring sustainability -including justice and equity-to the fore of urban planning and development agendas (Sietchiping et al 2016). However, as shown below, the fact that the SDGs and the NUA were developed by national governments, despite consultations including city representatives and other relevant stakeholders, means that their interpretation and implementation at the city level is not straightforward.…”

Towards New Urban Agenda: A Radical Reorientation of Urban Planning Education in India

“…The redefinition of ‘urban planning’ itself could be supportive of the processes of urban transformation in a democratic way, so as to be able to meet the NUA and the SDGs. In other words, as argued in the beginning, the scope of urban planning needs to be socially progressive (Watson, 2016; Zinkernagel et al, 2018), with a possibility of bringing in equity and justice within urban planning and development (Sietchiping et al, 2016).…”

“…Once again, the term ‘planning’ here is used in multiple ways; referring to land use planning and other sectoral plans. The NUA and SDGs are considered ambitious, comprehensive and socially progressive (Watson, 2016; Zinkernagel et al, 2018), with the possibility of bringing in equity and justice within urban planning and development (Sietchiping et al, 2016). However, for these global agendas to translate to local actions, their aims must be mainstreamed within urban planning (in content and in processes) and its education.…”

UN SDGs Implementation Level in the Urban Sector in Korea: Focusing on a Framework Application Based on Relative Efficiency Theory

“…Although the SDGs are relatively recent issues, research has been conducted in various fields. Among them, the major studies directly related to urban SDGs include those by Seong et al [11], Lim et al [12], Jeong [13], Han [14], Simon et al [15], Satterthwaite [16], Sietchping et al [17], and Valencia et al [18].…”

“…Sietchping et al [17] emphasized the role of national and local governments for the successful implementation of goal 11 and advocated for the establishment of a policy framework in line with goal 11.…”