Image: Kyle Hasegawa/Flickr
11. Sustainable cities and communities

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

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SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities is supported by ABB

News

Green_Jobs_Gap_CBD_Workers_Singapore
With one in five green jobs expected to go unfilled by 2030, LinkedIn’s Pei Ying Chua and Microsoft Singapore’s Joey Tan warn of a growing skills gap. They urge businesses to see green investments as strategic, not as a cost.
Global_Warming_Conservation_Red_Loris
Conservationists are rethinking strategies to build climate resilience in nature as rising temperatures threaten species and ecosystems worldwide.
India_Heatwaves_Record_Temp
Authorities issue alerts and prepare for heat-related illnesses as parts of India record temperatures above 46°C.
Peatland_Degradation_Indonesia
Nearly half of Indonesia’s peatlands are vulnerable to flooding due to degradation from exploitation, with 6 million hectares (15 million acres) – twice the size of Belgium – highly at risk.
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Opinion

Yarlung Tsangpo_Tibet
There are worries the construction of a hydropower dam across the transboundary Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet will intensify both water scarcity and flooding. These smaller-sized river basins are often neglected in academic research.
A fleet of electric cars in China
Chinese and American firms are seeking to export their autonomous driving technologies to Southeast Asia. The signal lesson is that their data-driven models require sensitivity and adaptation to the region’s diverse markets.
Urban_Pollution_Delhi_Toxic_Air
Leading a group of mothers, campaigner Bhavreen Kandhari tells WHO conference that children need a quicker energy transition.
Myanmar_Protest_Mineral_Rights
Resource-rich countries are signing critical mineral deals under duress, sacrificing long-term benefits.
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Videos

Fireside chat with Dr Mark Konyn, AIA group chief investment officer
In this wide-ranging fireside chat moderated by Eco-Business CEO Jessica Cheam, AIA Group's chief investment officer Dr Mark Konyn asserts there is “no U-turn” among corporates invested for the long term, even as political regimes change amid a new world order.
Transition credits explainer video_title card
There is consensus that coal needs to be retired early in Asia, but the mechanisms for financing the phase-out are not clear. This mini-documentary examines how transition credits work and whether they can fund Southeast Asia's equitable switch to clean power.
KAS video intro
EB Studio From sponge cities to coastal forests, Asia is seeking ways to work with nature and prepare for the risks in a warmer-than-expected future. This Eco-Business video looks at what else cities need to do to strengthen climate resilience.
Jack Johnson and Jessica Cheam
Exclusive Jack Johnson says yes, but it is a long road ahead. In this exclusive interview, we ask the American singer-songwriter and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador about his hopes for the state of the world and how music plays a role in providing a dose of optimism in dark times.
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Podcasts

EB Podcast - climate children's books
Indonesian environmental campaigners took a novel approach to raising climate awareness by publishing five children's books about the country's environmental issues. This podcast explores their creative process and the public's response.
EB Podcast with IPCC
UN climate report authors need to commit to the integrity of assessment processes while working with governments with differing interests. Dr Theresa Wong tells the Eco-Business podcast why the stakes are high to get climate science right.
Plastic bag in water
EB Studio Plastic waste is flooding the planet. Instead of waiting for regulation to drive change, give value to recyclables and mobilise the people, says Plastic Bank.
Airplane-contrails2
EB Studio With alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuel still too expensive and low in demand for the aviation industry to consider, carbon offsets could be a way to reduce emissions – if used right. EcoSecurities and the International Air Transport Association tell the Eco-Business podcast how airlines can ensure compliance when new regulations become mandatory
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