World's Progress Regarding Sustainable Cities & Communities

 Our world today is improving in a lot of communities and sustainable cities. The sustainable cities and communities are doing various types of projects regarding the progress of it.

Many cities have already implemented sustainability efforts to meet SDG 11. Cities such as London, England, and New York City, New York, who have passed legislation for congestion pricing to reduce air pollution. Congestion pricing is used to discourage people from driving by charging drivers higher tolls if they travel during rush hour or in certain high-traffic areas. Drivers of electric cars are sometimes allowed to travel for free to encourage environmentally conscious travel. Individuals can participate in this effort by choosing an electric car as their next vehicle or opting to walk or bike more frequently (Society, 2021).

The United Nations (UN) for example adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is a plan to promote peace and sustainable growth worldwide. The goal says cities should ensure access to safe and affordable housing, public transportation, and public green spaces. It states that cities should be resilient to natural disasters and protect those in vulnerable situations while also minimizing economic loss (Society, 2021).

Also, Seattle was one of the first cities where the sustainable cities idea first emerged in local grassroots organizations, these programs owe their existence to public involvement.(2021)

And last but not least, In January 2012, the SFMTA Board of Directors approved the 2013 – 2018 SFMTA Strategic Plan, Documenting and analyzing bicycle volumes and trends in San Francisco supports the SFMTA’s Strategic Plan Goals, which build upon the city’s Transit-First Policy to prioritize ways of traveling other than driving a car.
The agency’s vision for a sustainable transportation system citywide includes a safe, inviting network of bicycle-friendly streets that is easy to use for people of a wide range of ages and abilities.
Today bicycling moves people around San Francisco using less space per person than when people go by driving. The SFMTA encourages bicycling and makes yearly ridership and trend data public.

(Bicycle Ridership Data, 2021)

All of these are examples of the efforts that the world is giving to maintain the goal of sustainable cities and communities.

Written by: Sarah Almarshdi

References

 SFMTA. 2021. Bicycle Ridership Data. [online] Available at: <https://www.sfmta.com/bicycle-ridership-data> [Accessed 15 April 2021].

Society, N., 2021. Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/sustainable-development-goal-11-sustainable-cities-and-communities/> [Accessed 15 April 2021].

Seg.fsu.edu. 2021. [online] Available at: <http://seg.fsu.edu/Library/portney-taking-sustainability-seriously-in-cities.pdf> [Accessed 15 April 2021].