Asia Pacific‘s leading platform for sustainable development
11. Sustainable cities and communities
More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. By 2050, that figure will have risen to 6.5 billion people – two-thirds of all humanity. Extreme poverty is often concentrated in urban spaces, and national and city governments struggle to accommodate the rising population in these areas. Making cities safe and sustainable means ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, and upgrading slum settlements. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces.
Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities is supported by ABB
News
Carbon & Climate
Singapore outlines first national climate adaptation plan
Singapore's draft adaptation plan will address heat resilience, coastal defence, and water security. Climate scientists and NGOs say the plan must also include nature and the most vulnerable to climate risks in its design.
Supply-chain push may bring new deals but do little to help producer countries develop their mining sectors.
Long-term energy security is also a concern for Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which have been expanding LNG infrastructure. Experts say that a shift to renewables is worthwhile, but policies are diverging across the region.
Food & Agriculture
Homestead farming is empowering Indigenous women in central India
Women in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh are becoming leaders of their homestead farms.
Policy & Finance
Asia leads global shift toward sustainable investing, survey finds
Opinion
As countries scramble to secure the minerals needed for clean energy, digital technologies, AI, and defense industries, the new era of resource competition implies both great promise and grave peril.
Policy & Finance
AI can propel women forward – or set them back further
AI will mostly benefit those already well positioned to leverage it – men. Businesses and governments cannot afford to overlook gender as they invest in talent policies for the AI age.
Policy & Finance
Sanae Takaichi supermajority opens path to nuclear-led, industry-driven energy transition in Japan
Landslide election win strengthens push to link decarbonisation with economic security, boosting nuclear, domestic clean tech and state-led industrial strategy while keeping climate targets intact.
Vietnam’s stalled Chinese-backed solar factories underscore how Global South nations must demand technology transfer and value addition – not just capital inflows – from China’s expanding overseas clean-tech investments.
Food & Agriculture
How to feed ten billion people
Carbon & Climate
As climate diplomacy stalls, the economics are racing ahead
Videos
The impact documentary exploring Asia's mounting waste crisis – and its solutions – is now streaming exclusively for Eco-Business subscribers.
In the latest episode of the Climate Tech in Asia series, we speak to Breakthrough Energy and Green COP about what the shifting geopolitical landscape means for the climate tech ecosystem in Asia.
Carbon & Climate
More forest protection and financing needed in 13th Malaysia Plan, say environmental groups
NGOs urged the government to improve forest data transparency by making maps of protected areas publicly available, and to channel funds to frontline communities living near forests.
Policy & Finance
Simplifying sustainability reporting for SMEs
EB Studio
As Malaysia forges ahead with its 2050 net zero climate ambition, businesses must reshape their supply chains for a low carbon future. This Eco-Business video looks at how SMEs can adapt to new sustainability reporting requirements.
Podcasts
Carbon & Climate
Jeffrey Sachs: China is unequivocally the world’s climate power today. Asean’s opportunity is next.
Exclusive
The economist and president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network told the Eco-Business Podcast how China’s green industrial and financial capabilities can help accelerate Southeast Asia's transition to net zero.
The head of waste management non-profit Ocean Recovery Alliance tells the EB Podcast that recycled content mandates will drive the circular economy better than caps on virgin plastic production. Brands should be pressured more than petrochemical producers to phase out unnecessary plastics, he says.
Green Buildings
Are our climate targets too weak or too ambitious? Hang Lung Properties’ sustainability chief John Haffner
Having "stretch targets" can spur innovation, says the sustainability chief for one of Hong Kong's largest real estate firms in the latest episode of "On the frontlines". He also shares why the firm has chosen to publish the draft of its net zero plan for open discussion of its climate targets.
A new report predicts Hong Kong could lose one quarter of its wildlife to new developments. WWF Hong Kong conservation head Dr Bosco Chan and Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden's Dr Stephan Gale tell the EB Podcast that developers must build in ways that protect nature and bolster climate resilience.
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