Shaping cities of the future to be inclusive, sustainable and resilient

Imagine a city in Asia and the Pacific, in 2030, where sustainability flourishes, public services are accessible to all, and green spaces abound amid bustling urban life. In several cities across the region, local governments are moving towards achieving such a vision, but progress is slow.

But time is of the essence, and the cities of tomorrow will be shaped by decisions made today. The building of resilient, equitable and sustainable urban environments requires a new type of city leadership that champions a transformative approach that goes way beyond traditional urban management.

In today’s world, cities account for more than 70% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, mainly from transportation and buildings. By 2050, rapid urbanization will add 1.2 billion people to cities in Asia and the Pacific, putting immense pressure on already strained infrastructure and services, compounded by the impacts of climate change.

Without rapid transformation, many cities in Asia Pacific will see rising inequalities and be even more vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.

Six of the 10 countries most affected by climate-related events over the past two decades lie in Asia and the Pacific, compounding to the vulnerability of some of the growing cities. This unfolds as many of them already struggle to provide basic services like clean water, affordable housing and reliable energy for their growing populations.

To address these challenges, an increasing number of cities are adopting innovative solutions to mitigate the impacts of rapid urbanization and climate change.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is working with the city of Karachi in Pakistan to develop green and sustainable infrastructure projects, to improve its resilience as well as the living conditions of internally displaced populations affected by climate-related events, alongside the city's resident populations.

While being impactful at the community level, these projects are now to be scaled up to meet the needs of millions of residents, particularly the most vulnerable ones living in informal settlements.

At this critical time, it is visionary and collaborative leadership that will make the difference. One that builds partnerships and drives actions across all sectors of society, to contend effectively with today’s complex urban challenges while committing to a long-term vision for a future that is equitable, prosperous and sustainable.

By championing inclusive and forward-looking strategies – where local government, communities, businesses and civil society work together to craft solutions – city leaders can tackle the inter-related complex challenges they face of environmental degradation, urban poverty, social exclusion and inequality.

With such strategies, they are also better placed to leverage the required level of financing, implement changes that will meet the demands of residents, and protect the rights of future generations.

An inspiring example in Asia is the city of Bangkok that has adopted an open government approach – open data, open contracts and open dialogue – to build public trust and foster citizen and private sector engagement in the city’s green and resilient urban transformation.

Through collaborative efforts that include public institutions, private stakeholders, and local communities, Bangkok is developing innovative green infrastructure projects like Green Bangkok 2030, to create inclusive public spaces, drive inclusive growth and advance sustainability.

The path to resilience and prosperity must also harness the power of digital technology and artificial intelligence-based tools that can help reimagine the cities of the future.

Digital innovations, driven by proactive leadership, can help better anticipate future shocks and trends, and model future scenarios to inform long-term urban planning. that benefit today’s residents, as well as future generations, particularly vulnerable groups like women, children and people with disabilities.

Dhaka, with 24 million inhabitants, the capital of Bangladesh, is an example of how data can better support the development challenges of urban governance. By using predictive analytics, the city has developed early-warning systems for climate-related risks, protecting its most vulnerable residents from disasters.

In Japan, the city of Yokohama is integrating digital tools to promote citizen engagement and reduce greenhouse emissions through its Smart City initiative, ensuring that urban development is sustainable and inclusive.

In Singapore, the Smart Nation initiative exemplifies how integrating the internet of things, data analytics and autonomous transport systems, have enhanced the country’s mobility, reduced congestion and improved the delivery of public services, setting a benchmark for urban innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Asian cities will continue growing bigger and faster; the challenges this urban growth faces will also become larger, and more complex. Still, building cities of the future that are green and safe for all is within reach. Technology and finance allow for it. Visionary and bold leaders who embrace good urban governance, collaboration and transformation can make it happen.