When we look at world history, we see that by the end of the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution had brought about a dominant perception of “speed” and “size.” This perception has increasingly revealed humanity’s insatiability and impatience, failing to bring happiness to people. Because humanity was unable to manage this wave of speed and size; on the contrary, it permeated all areas of life, affecting everything from our health to our education, our living conditions to our consumption. This situation has led to a search for “slowness and creativity,” which can be considered the greatest value of our age.
Thanks to slowness and creativity, new discoveries are emerging, and healthy and long-lasting sharing is becoming acceptable. This creates awareness about becoming a good, clean, and conscious individual, resulting in development and the need for sustainable resources to continue existing creativity.
The need for sustainable resources is charting a roadmap for protecting the future, identity, and nature of cities and humanity. The roadmap includes health, climate, education, production, employment, and living spaces.
This process has begun to provide an environment for new ideas and raise awareness. The 17 goals (objectives) and 169 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, signed by 193 countries at the United Nations Development Summit in 2015, are the greatest proof of this. The countries that came together at the summit agreed to eradicate poverty in all its dimensions and ensure the common prosperity of humanity by 2030. The declared Sustainable Development Goals are a global action plan for ending poverty, protecting the environment, taking action against the climate crisis, ensuring the fair distribution of prosperity, and achieving peace. The ultimate goal is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This is because over the next 10 years, cities will grow by 95%, half of the world’s population will live in cities, a significant portion of city dwellers will live in slums, energy demand in cities will increase, and environmental pollution and carbon emissions will rise. In this situation, solutions to important problems facing humanity, such as poverty, climate change, health services, and education, will need to be found in cities.
A total of 17 universal goals, including hunger, poverty, gender equality, climate, healthy consumption and production, clean water resources, employment, education, and well-being, bring with them a comprehensive new alternative. The 11th of these 17 main goals, which is the subject of this study, aims to ensure access to housing, basic services, transportation services, and green spaces. Goal 11 also calls for inclusive and sustainable urbanization and reducing the environmental impact of cities. Furthermore, it encourages the establishment of constructive economic, social, and environmental links between cities, urban areas, and rural areas.
(11.1. By 2030, ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services for all and upgrade slums
11.1.1. Percentage of urban population living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing
11.2. By 2030, ensure access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transportation systems for all, with special attention to the needs of the most vulnerable, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons, through the development of public transportation systems
11.2.1. Percentage of population with easy access to public transport, by sex, age and disability
11.3. By 2030, strengthen capacity for inclusive and sustainable urbanization and planning and management of human settlements that are participatory, integrated and sustainable in all countries
11.3.1. Ratio of land consumption for settlement purposes to population growth rate
11.3.2. Proportion of cities with regular and democratically functioning urban planning and city management, with direct participation mechanisms for civil society
11.4. Strengthening efforts to protect and promote the world’s cultural and natural heritage
11.4.1. By type of heritage (cultural, natural, mixed, and World Heritage Site designation), level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal), type of expenditure (operating expenditure/investment), and type of special fund (donations, private and non-profit sector, and sponsorship) the protection and preservation of all cultural and natural heritage, including total expenditure per capita on protection (public and private)
11.5. By 2030, significantly reduce the direct economic losses related to the global gross domestic product and the number of deaths and people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and vulnerable
11.5.1. Number of people affected, missing, and killed by disasters per 100,000 population
11.5.2. Ratio of direct economic losses from damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of essential services to global GDP
11.6. By 2030, reduce per capita adverse environmental impacts in cities, with special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
11.6.1. Proportion of municipal solid waste collected regularly and disposed of in an appropriate manner (by city)
11.6.2. Annual average levels of fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (weighted by population)
11.7. Ensuring universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green spaces and public spaces, especially for women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, by 2030
11.7.1. Average share of fully accessible public spaces in cities, by gender, age, and disability
11.7.2. Proportion of people who experienced physical or sexual harassment in the last 12 months, by gender, age, disability, and location
11.a. Strengthening national and regional development planning to support positive economic, social, and environmental links between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas
11.a.1. Proportion of the population living in cities where urban and regional development plans that integrate population projections and resource needs according to city size are implemented
11.b. By 2020, Significantly increasing the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans for resource efficiency, climate change adaptation, and disaster resilience, and developing and implementing comprehensive disaster risk management at all levels in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
11.b.1. Percentage of local governments that have adopted and implemented local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
11.b.2. Number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies
11.c. Support least developed countries in building sustainable and resilient buildings using local materials through financial and technical assistance
11.c.1. Proportion of financial assistance allocated to resilient, sustainable, and resource-efficient buildings constructed and renovated using local materials in least developed countries)
And it addresses the three pillars of development: economic, social, and environmental, encompassing 169 sub-targets. These goals, which aim to address all these pillars in an interconnected and indivisible manner and establish a balance among them, therefore impose responsibilities and obligations not only on less developed and developing countries but also on developed countries. Cities account for 3% of the world’s land area but are responsible for 60-80% of energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions. By 2030, approximately 60% of the world’s population will live in cities, further increasing the need for efficiency and innovation in resource and energy consumption. In our world, where 50% of the total population currently lives in cities and this percentage is expected to rise to 60% by 2030, the sustainability and resilience of metropolitan areas are crucial for the private sector to operate effectively. One of the most important actors in metropolitan areas is the working population, who need access to affordable housing, solid infrastructure, and green spaces. Cities must be livable and resilient to severe weather conditions and natural disasters.
Local governments, which play the biggest role, are implementing projects that incorporate existing goals and reporting on the results. The current results offer local governments the opportunity to balance every area they can touch (health, climate, education, production, employment, and living spaces) and strengthen control mechanisms.
In this struggle, where local administrations play a major role, the Cittaslow (Slow City) movement is the greatest example and building block of this success, as it incorporates the “Sustainable Development Goals.” This is because it offers a local development model for cities. The development and progress of cities that are aware of their uniqueness are possible through their respect for the environment and nature. Cities that embrace sustainability and development can remain consistent with their identity as long as they preserve their nature, historical identity, local flavors, and cultures. Seferihisar, Turkey’s first Cittaslow member, has undertaken exemplary initiatives in this regard.
One of the most pressing issues facing cities is energy needs. Environmental pollution, carbon emissions, the consequences of unplanned construction, and natural disasters affect cities with high population densities more severely, naturally lowering the quality of life for their residents. Within this framework, there are several criteria related to living spaces: Providing safe and accessible housing, transforming slums, investing in public transportation, creating public green spaces, implementing regular urban planning, participatory and inclusive urban management, reducing negative environmental impacts in cities, and protecting cultural and natural heritage. These criteria highlight the close relationship between sustainable development and the construction of cities and communities that extend into the future. What can be done for sustainable cities and communities? Since the majority of carbon dioxide emissions in the transportation sector come from road transportation, the widespread use of charging stations for electric vehicles will reduce the use of fossil fuels and indirectly protect the environment. The widespread use of charging stations will make electric vehicles more convenient and practical to use, reducing air pollution and carbon emissions. while the expansion of public transportation options such as subways or buses significantly reduces fossil fuel use. Additionally, facilitating other vehicle-free transportation methods (e.g., creating bike lanes) will enhance the resilience of cities and communities against time, thereby making it easier to build sustainable cities and communities.
One of the most important elements to focus on is public green spaces. Contrary to popular belief, public green spaces are not just visually appealing features. The existence of areas that are easily accessible to individuals indicates that cities have a sustainable design. Parks, gardens, forests, and playgrounds provide benefits that improve the quality of urban life. Access to these areas for all segments of society also ensures the inclusiveness necessary for sustainable cities and communities.
On the other hand, waste management must be improved to ensure more responsible use of resources. By adopting a circular production and consumption model that promotes conscious use of raw materials and reevaluation of products and components through the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle method, the foundation for successful waste management can be established. There are successful initiatives in this area in our country. (For example, the Döngü Cooperative, which implemented the “Sustainable Agriculture with Rural Women Leaders: Flax Cycle Project” in İzmir.) Such entrepreneurs and R&D initiatives must be innovative in the areas of waste management, circular production, agriculture, and consumption in sustainable cities and communities.
As cities and communities grow, the basic food needs of the population also increase. In this context, it is necessary to meet these needs in a sustainable, continuous, and efficient manner. Urban agriculture offers a practical solution to this need. It also supports economic activity in the local economy. It is important to remember that the food supply chain and the environmental impact along this chain increase the carbon footprint of products. This means that as the supply chain shortens, the carbon footprint decreases. Thanks to urban agriculture, local products can be obtained fresh and with minimal environmental impact.
What can be done to solve the problems mentioned so far? Local governments and private investors should accurately assess the environmental impact and geographical location of the buildings they construct, be sensitive to energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, reduce pressure on traffic by providing public transportation and flexible working hours, set pollution reduction targets, collaborate with national and regional planners to develop urban and rural transportation connections that create new socio-economic opportunities, develop products that enhance the energy efficiency of homes and offices, including lighting, ventilation, heating, and cooling, establish sustainable infrastructure and transportation systems in cities within the supply chain and establish cross-sector partnerships to increase employment and worker productivity.
Another alternative solution may be to explore opportunities by joining the UN Global Compact Cities Program initiative. The UN Global Compact Cities Program (United Nations Global Compact) is a non-binding United Nations agreement and a network of signatories that encourages companies to develop sustainable and socially responsible practices in order to promote a sustainable, shared global development culture worldwide. As of 2021, the agreement has over 9,500 companies and over 3,000 non-company signatories in over 160 countries. It is recognized as the world’s most widespread voluntary responsibility project.
The Global Compact is led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its 10 core principles are grouped under four pillars: human rights, labor rights, environment, and anti-corruption. As one of the external stakeholders, the state is relatively distancing itself from certain economic, environmental, and social activities carried out under its control, and this gap is being filled by businesses and NGOs. In addition to states, businesses and NGOs with the human and economic resources to address these issues are sharing this role with the state. As social actors, NGOs are interest and pressure groups that can fill areas where the public sector is not involved in many of their activities. Both businesses and NGOs are increasingly cooperating in these activities. Although the public sector still has a large share of resources, the liberal economic structure has become increasingly established, and the weight of businesses and NGOs has grown accordingly. In fact, businesses operating on a global scale can affect the lives of people in many parts of the world.
The Roadmap we mentioned at the beginning of this discussion encompasses a lengthy and detailed process. The destination of this journey will be green, clean, healthy, and smart living spaces.
