ARTICLE | Integrated Urban Development
Initiating coordinated urban development across the Globe Urbanisation has been one of the fastest growing trends of the 21st century. Data predicts that by 2050, the global urban population may double in size resulting in 7 of 10 people living in cities. However, the infrastructure in cities may not be able to cope with this growth until all countries across the world unite to undertake integrated, inclusive and sustainable development
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he New Urban Agenda (NUA) was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on October 20, 2016. In little over four years, the NUA has helped countries across the globe in engaging in planned development which not only betters their urban infrastructure but also fulfils aims of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Addis Ababa Action Agenda and several other international frameworks and agreements. Various programs run by countries across the world have focused time and again on development. A majority of these programs, whether started before or after 2016, contribute greatly to the NUA. These projects can be summed up in three broad categories – city level, regional level and national level.
Development at city level
Various cities across the world, like the Habitat III host city Quito in Ecuador, have begun numerous development programs since the adoption of the NUA. Recently, the city of Quito commenced a mega infrastructure development plan based on the Transit Oriented Development strategy and Land Value Capture plans. The plan will help in maximising residential,
36 February 2021 | www.urbanupdate.in
commercial and recreational open spaces which are accessible by public transport. This is not only in line with SDG Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), but it also helps the country in fulfilling the Paris Agreement by ensuring planned, sustainable development which does not harm the environment. In Madrid, Spain, the introduction of Cuidamos Centro project, or ‘We Take Care of the Centro District’, fulfills Part D of Point 13 of the NUA while also fulfilling SDG Goal 4, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 16. The project works towards ensuring employment opportunities for those who would have otherwise stayed unemployed while also making sure that they promote social cohesion, awareness and initiative. In 2017, a team of formerly-excluded job seekers (including 4 migrants) were engaged as Dynamizers to raise collective
awareness in the community around the importance of waste management and environmental protection, thereby contributing to realising goals of the Paris Climate Agreement too. The New Taipei City Surplus Food Network (NTCSFN) collects vegetables, fruit, and other edible products that have an unattractive appearance from the New Taipei City markets and sends them to the Social Welfare Department for distribution. Other social-welfare and private organisations help the government in implementing similar programs so that resources can be provided flexibly to people in need. Individual donations to facilitate the implementation of such programs are also accepted. This helps Taiwan in realising SDG Goals 2, 10, 11 and 17 and also Part A and H of Point 13 of the NUA. The initiative also eventually helps in reducing hunger and starvation, child stunting
