
Globally cities are at the epicentre of global disruptive trends, and unable to capitalised onto the opportunities due to these global trends
Cities across the world are perceived as engines of economic growth and act as agents of social, cultural, economic, technological, and political change and advancement. The progressive development agenda of cities fuels economic activities and attracts more people to urban areas in search of a better life. This is one of the main reasons for rapid urbanisation, leading to an increased demand for quality infrastructure and improved service delivery. Currently, 56% of the world’s population resides in cities, and by 2050, it is estimated that the total population residing in cities will be in the range of 68%-80%.
Cities have emerged as focal points for global trends, including rapid urbanisation, demographic shifts, and climate change. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in exponential growth, turning cities into metropolitan regions and putting considerable pressure on subnational governments to meet the rising demand and sustain the quality of service delivery. As cities with limited resources strive to cope with rapid urbanisation and develop sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban spaces, it is crucial for global and city leaders to foster collective and collaborative efforts. By promoting and implementing transformative actions, sustainable urbanisation can be achieved.
Globally, cities have undergone progressive structural transformation; however, subnational governments have been unable to keep pace with the rapid rate of urbanisation and make cities ready for the future. As a result, cities are unable to maximise the social and economic benefits of urbanisation and pass on the dividends to their citizens. Constrained technical capacity and limited financial budgets are key challenges faced by subnational governments, which is the prime reason for their struggle to sustain the pace of infrastructure supply with the growing demand. The increase in the infrastructure gap has created inequalities and social segregation regarding access to basic services such as water, wastewater, sanitation, affordability of housing, concerns related to mobility, and provision of services, among others.
Cities to play vital role in the current decade (2020-2030); and city managers have a critical task at hand, to sustain development agenda and accelerate climate actions.
The year 2020 marked a turning point in the global battle for sustainable development, as the world entered the ‘Decade of Action’, a ten-year period during which governments, the private sector, and civil society must accelerate their efforts to deliver on the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerate sustainable solutions to the challenges.
National and subnational governments need to ramp up their actions to improve progress across the identified SDGs. Subnational governments will need to focus on localising the SDGs to meet the targets, which also requires coordination and cooperation among all city-level stakeholders, building the future of quality infrastructure through structural transformation actions, and developing the capacity of city staff. This makes it imperative for cities to call for action from leaders of the Global South to support cities in playing a vital role in the ‘Decade of Action’, which, in turn, helps achieve accelerated economic growth and climate targets.
India through sixth Urban20 cycle advocates Sustainable Urbanisation
Over the past two decades, the Indian Government has been advocating for sustainable urbanisation and focused on supporting Indian cities to accelerate development and maximise the social and economic benefits of rapid urbanisation. The Indian Government has launched several national urban missions, such as JnNURM, AMRUT, Smart Cities Mission, HRIDAY, PMAY-Housing for All, and Swachh Bharat Mission. By integrating urban issues into the G20 agenda, the U20 aims to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by urbanisation. It enables cities to amplify their voices and contribute to global policy discussions, ensuring that urban perspectives are considered in shaping international agendas.
Furthermore, cities have to be empowered to achieve the right balance between economic prosperity and environmental impact, increasing densities and sprawl, diversity and social cohesion, technological advancements and the digital divide, and multiple other urban contradictions. Given the contribution of cities to the productivity of nations and the world, it is crucial that they play a pivotal role in developing effective solutions to pressing and interlinked global issues.
Moving from intention to action in the sixth U20 cycle
In the past, U20 cycles have highlighted crucial urban issues and presented the distinctive viewpoint of cities to the G20 through their communiqués. The previous communiqués have emphasised the need for cities to take immediate action to ensure sustainable environments, healthy communities, and social harmony. The latest Jakarta communiqué specifically called for a sustainable, resilient, and fair post-pandemic recovery. The current U20 cycle, with Ahmedabad as its chair city, aims to continue and expand on the legacy established by the previous presidencies.
The effort of the sixth U20 is to continue moving from intention to action and to draft a roadmap for global change that will be driven by cities. The U20 engagement group’s efforts can have far-reaching implications. By highlighting the significance of urban policies and practices, it underscores the crucial role that cities play in achieving global goals such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on climate change, and other international commitments.
Recognizing that cities are key drivers of economic growth, innovation, and social progress, the U20 reinforces the understanding that empowering cities and enabling effective urban governance is vital for sustainable development at a global scale. Under the sixth U20 cycle, the six priority areas identified and presented below encompass most of the current concerns that cities globally are trying to cope with. The white papers on each of these areas will aim to list out transformative actions required by the cities to close the gaps between policy and practice at all levels of governance.
- Encouraging Environmentally Responsible Behaviours: This priority focuses on promoting sustainable practices and behaviours within urban communities to reduce environmental impact and foster a greener future.
- Accelerating Climate Finance: Recognizing the importance of financing in addressing climate change, this area aims to explore innovative financial mechanisms to mobilise funds for climate action in urban areas.
- Ensuring Water Security: With increasing water scarcity and challenges related to water management, this priority emphasises the need for sustainable water management practices to ensure water security in urban settings.
- Championing Local Identity: This area recognizes the significance of preserving and promoting the unique cultural and historical identities of cities while fostering inclusive urban development.
- Reinventing Frameworks for Urban Governance and Planning: To effectively address the complex challenges of urbanisation, this priority focuses on developing innovative governance and planning frameworks that facilitate sustainable and inclusive urban development.
- Catalyzing Digital Urban Futures: This priority aims to leverage digital technologies and innovation to enhance urba services, improve efficiency, and create smart and connected cities for the future.
Through the U20, India can demonstrate leadership in promoting urban-centric development strategies and advocate for the inclusion of sustainable urbanisation in the G20’s deliberations. By elevating the visibility and influence of cities within the G20 framework, the U20 can contribute to more holistic and comprehensive policy discussions that consider the diverse needs and aspirations of urban areas worldwide. Ultimately, this collaboration between the G20 and cities can result in more effective, inclusive, and sustainable policies that have a positive impact on urban populations and the world as a whole.
Views expressed by Sneha Ravani, Sundus Usmani, Harsh Shah (Authors are team members of Urban20 Technical Secretariat, National Institute of Urban Affairs, India)