Sustainable Cities: A Global Priority

Cities around the world are experiencing unprecedented growth, with over half of the world’s population—approximately 4 billion people—now living in urban areas. By 2050, this figure is projected to exceed 6.5 billion, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global population. This rapid urbanization presents both opportunities and challenges, making the way cities handle this growth crucial for the environment.

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Global Goals for Sustainable Urban Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG 11 focusing on cities. This goal aims to create “inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable” urban environments. The New Urban Agenda (NUA), adopted at the 2016 Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador, further supports these goals with a 20-year roadmap that seeks to enhance the social, cultural, and environmental well-being of city residents.

The Role of Cities in Combating Climate Change

Urban centers play a crucial role in combating climate change. As Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility, highlights, “The fight against climate change will be won or lost in cities.” Cities are hubs of innovation, providing a platform for collaboration among business leaders, financial institutions, planners, and regulators.

The World Bank is actively working to develop competitive, inclusive, and resilient cities, focusing on supporting the urban poor. The Sustainable Cities program significantly contributes to these efforts by fostering partnerships and driving advancements that lead to sustainable urban environments.

GEF’s Commitment to Sustainable Urbanization

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The World Bank’s Efforts in Promoting Sustainable Communities

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Investing in Game-Changing Technologies

The GEF-7 cycle continues to support projects that incorporate cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches to drive transformative environmental impacts. By harnessing both public and private resources, the program aims to maximize stakeholder engagement and deliver impactful solutions for sustainable urban development.

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A Holistic Way Forward

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Global Platform for Sustainable Cities—The Power of Partnership

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Sharing Knowledge: Equipping cities with state-of-the-art knowledge and expertise in urban planning, management, and financing.

Capacity Development: Facilitating connections among cities and stakeholders to share best practices and insights in sustainable urban development.

GPSC’s Pillars Supporting Sustainability

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The GPSC initiatives are structured around three key pillars, each reinforced by cross-cutting engagement methods:

  1. Sustainability Indicators and Tools: GPSC promotes a unified approach to using indicators and tools for assessing urban sustainability, setting goals, and tracking progress. The Urban Sustainability Framework (USF) is a key resource, providing actionable tools and guidelines for cities.
  2. Integrated Urban Planning and Management: This pillar focuses on strategic planning informed by robust data and technology, such as transit-oriented development (TOD) and smart urban systems.
  3. Municipal Finance: GPSC assists cities in developing fiscal strategies to ensure financial sustainability, linking technical assistance with market-based financing options for urban infrastructure.
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GPSC PillarInitiatives
Sustainability IndicatorsUse of indicators and tools to monitor urban sustainability and progress.
Integrated PlanningStrategic urban planning with data-driven approaches, including TOD and smart systems.
Municipal FinanceDeveloping fiscal strategies and market-based financing to support sustainable infrastructure.

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Capacity Development

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Connecting—Leveraging the Network

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As a global convening space, GPSC facilitates collaboration among cities and agencies, bringing together practitioners from both the public and private sectors to promote sustainable urban development. The platform builds a broad-based coalition supporting sustainable management, planning, and financing for cities worldwide.

Expanding Partnerships and Investment Opportunities

GPSC continues to expand its network of implementing agencies, knowledge partners, investment partners, and resource partners. By collaborating with organizations such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, and UN-Habitat, GPSC leverages both public and private financing opportunities to support sustainable urban projects. This collaboration equips cities with the resources and expertise needed to achieve their sustainability objectives and drive global change.

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