Welcome to the United Nations

June 2022 - You are accessing an old version of our website. The SDGs Voluntary Commitments have been migrated here: https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships

You will be redirected to the new Partnership Platform in 10 seconds.

#SDGAction28077
Cities and Sustainbale Places
Description/achievement of initiative

This programme provides an independent hub to address issues and concerns related to sustainable place making in towns and cities. It offers cross cutting research to guide policy and practice. It uses an inclusive view to place-based resilience, social cohesion, climate change, active travel and energy transitions to reinvigorate the links between human settlements and the contiguous ecosystems, with sustainability objectives based on comprehensive understanding of local resources. The work also looks at specific processes relating to a range and types of places including national parks, nature reserves, city-regions, urban and rural communities, food producing regions, and urban regeneration initiatives.

Implementation methodologies

The programme has two main thematic priorities: Social innovation for place-based development With a focus on improving the quality of life, liveability and resilience, the work is based on satisfaction of basic needs of people, improvement in social relations and socio-political empowerment of citizens. Social innovation research has a key role to play in the processes of development in the quest to create more sustainable lifestyles and systems of consumption and production. The work further looks at diverse issues around: Sustainable mobility, environmental hazards, urban food systems, low-carbon futures, energy vulnerabilities, ethnicity and entrepreneurship. Urban and regional governance The research focus is on policies and practices oriented towards building and exploring sense(s) of place among individuals and communities through inclusive deliberation, innovation and adaptation promoting participatory planning, politics, policymaking and practice especially through interconnected and bottom-linked approaches.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Coordination mechanisms/governance structure

Partner(s)

Academic institutions Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Wales (United Kingdom) GRC Creativitat, Innovació i Transformació Urbana, Departament de Sociologia, University of Barcelona (Spain) Planning and Development Research Unit, University of Leuven (Belgium) Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi (Pakistan) International Networks European Spatial Development Planning Network (EU) International Network on Social Innovation, Sustainable Development and Territory - INSIST Other organisations Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Wales (United Kingdom)
Progress reports
Goal 1
1.5 - By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
Goal 5
5.5 - Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
Goal 6
6.1 - By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
Goal 8
8.4 - Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead
8.9 - By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
Goal 11
11.2 - By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
11.3 - By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
Goal 13
13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
07/2020
Policy recommendations
08/2019
State of the art in urban sustainability research
Staff / Technical expertise
Research expertise

Basic information
Time-frame: 09/2018 - 06/2021
Website
Partners
Academic institutions Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University, Wales (United Kingdom) GRC Creativitat, Innovació i Transformació Urbana, Departament de Sociologia, University of Barcelona (Spain) Planning and Development Research Unit, University of Leuven (Belgium) Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi (Pakistan) International Networks European Spatial Development Planning Network (EU) International Network on Social Innovation, Sustainable Development and Territory - INSIST Other organisations Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Wales (United Kingdom)
Countries
Contact information
Abid Mehmood, Dr., MehmoodA1@cardiff.ac.uk
United Nations