Urban Living and Its Implications
Today, over half of the global population resides in urban areas, a number anticipated to rise by 2.4 billion by the year 2050. While cities are pivotal to humanity’s future, they also face significant challenges, including climate change, social inequality, and economic instability. To accommodate the increasing urban population and meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while addressing climate change, cities need to adopt sustainable and transformative urban development strategies.
The Urban Crisis
The swift growth of urban regions has transcended being merely a trend; it has become a crisis. Uncontrolled urban expansion, primarily driven by rising housing demands and the proliferation of informal settlements housing over 1.1 billion individuals, exacerbates climate-related risks. Buildings and construction activities contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for as much as 40% of the total.
Rising Temperatures and Shrinking Green Spaces
According to the U.N.-Habitat’s World Cities Report 2024, more than 2 billion urban residents are expected to face considerable temperature hikes by 2040, with over one-third of city inhabitants living in regions where average annual temperatures surpass 29°C. Additionally, green spaces, which are essential for cooling urban environments and enhancing well-being, have dwindled from 19.5% of urban land in 1990 to a mere 13.9% in 2020. Climate-induced disasters, such as floods, cyclones, and droughts, have become more frequent, constituting 91% of major disasters recorded between 1998 and 2017. Vulnerable communities, particularly those residing in informal settlements, bear the brunt of these challenges.
Addressing Social and Economic Disparities
The issue at hand stretches beyond environmental concerns; cities are also grappling with widening social and economic rifts. The World Cities Report warns that the annual economic toll from escalating natural disasters could exceed $1 trillion by the middle of the century.
The Housing Crisis
A global housing crisis currently impacts more than 2.8 billion people. Simultaneously, investment in social housing is on the decline, with most regions committing less than 0.5% of GDP. Internal displacement caused by conflicts and natural disasters is further intensifying the demand for housing. A report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center highlights that the number of internally displaced individuals in Africa has surged to 35 million over the past 15 years, with 60% seeking refuge in already stressed urban environments.
Turning Challenges into Solutions
It’s crucial to recognize that cities are not merely sources of challenges—they can also be part of the solution. The focus should shift to reimagining urban policies, social and ecological land functions, legislation, and financial strategies to prioritize housing and essential services as drivers for climate action and sustainable development. The connection between affordable housing, well-structured and equitable cities, and sustainable development must be clearly established.
Optimizing Land Use
To begin, we must optimize land use for ecological, economic, and social advantages. This strategy will help curb emissions, enhance accessibility, and unlock urban areas’ latent potential. A significant focus should be on fostering local economic growth through the transformation of informal settlements and their integration into the urban landscape, especially given the informal economy’s substantial contribution to GDP in the Global South. For instance, the International Labour Organization reported that in 2021, 98.5% of Niger’s workforce was engaged in informal employment, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo had a similar figure of 97.5%. Informality also permeates land rights and property issues; only 6.6% of urban households in Angola are registered to pay property taxes, leading to property tax revenue contributing merely 0.26% of the state budget in 2023, as noted by the World Bank in the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance in Africa 2024 Yearbook.
Promoting Sustainable Housing Construction
Next, we should prioritize housing development while utilizing sustainable construction materials and fostering local markets. Housing and construction can serve dual roles: they can create jobs and stimulate the economy while also promoting environmentally sustainable practices. By integrating sustainable materials such as recycled steel, bamboo, and energy-efficient insulation, we can minimize the environmental impact of both new constructions and renovations.
Integrating Basic Services
Furthermore, essential services—such as clean energy, water, sanitation, and transportation—must be seamlessly woven into urban planning, necessitating appropriate infrastructure investments. These services are vital not only for the residents’ well-being but also for effectively addressing and adapting to climate change, ensuring that cities remain resilient and sustainable for future generations.
The Role of Local Governments
Local and regional governments stand at the forefront of these transformative efforts. They connect global aspirations with local actions, linking infrastructure, services, and communities, thereby forming the backbone of the SDGs. This involves collaborating with, and for, the most marginalized communities in informal settlements and devising strategies that optimize the built environment while reflecting consumer preferences and demographic trends.
Investing in Housing as a Solution
However, we cannot construct the foundation of the SDG framework without addressing housing. Housing serves as the essential support structure. Rapid urban growth is occurring in Africa and Asia, and cities in these regions must provide for and shelter their expanding populations. Investments in housing initiatives and infrastructure should be viewed as opportunities to generate economies of scale and broaden consumer and tax bases. The U.S. National Association of Home Builders states that building 100 affordable homes can create 161 local jobs in the first year alone, contributing $11.7 million to local income.
A Unified Path Forward
The way ahead is clear: collective efforts that align social, urban, and climate objectives on a foundation of local action, all supported by adequate housing.
A Guiding Principle
Our guiding principle is straightforward: care for the people, and they will, in turn, take care of the planet.
