11. Sustainable cities and communities
More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. By 2050, that figure will have risen to 6.5 billion people – two-thirds of all humanity. Extreme poverty is often concentrated in urban spaces, and national and city governments struggle to accommodate the rising population in these areas. Making cities safe and sustainable means ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, and upgrading slum settlements. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces.
Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities is supported by ABB
Berita
As the planet’s number one emitter, there are hopes that renewed policies and reporting guidelines will pave the way for China to realise its 2030 carbon neutrality ambitions. While 2025 signals greener progress ahead, experts say the need to balance energy security interests, however, may see fossil fuels firmly in the grid for longer.
Developing the credit markets will address a funding gap for nature-based solutions, said Tharman Shanmugaratnam. His proposal faced pushback from other panellists at the World Economic Forum who cautioned against commodifying nature.
Asia Pacific nations face mounting climate costs as the world crosses the 1.5°C threshold, with extreme weather driving inflation, disaster risks and a US$815 billion annual financing gap for adaptation and resilience.
Clean energy transport firms NIO Inc, Yadea, Li Auto and XPeng surge in ranking of the region’s most sustainable companies, while Taiwanese corporates make their debut in Corporate Knights’ Global 100 Index.
Karbon & Iklim
The Chinese business case for cutting emissions
Opini
Perkotaan
The climate policy pendulum
The US federal policy pendulum is swinging away from facts, reason and basic human decency with Trump re-entering the White House. But it will swing back if city mayors and local leaders insist on effective climate governance.
Metro Manila’s road congestion woes can be solved. But they have been hampered by slow implementation and weak political will.
Kebijakan & Keuangan
It’s time for a UN ‘universal declaration on nature’
The ‘rights of nature’ is an allied approach, but nature needs something with more and broader teeth, that can elicit a moral and political consensus on the need for nature conservation.
Kebijakan & Keuangan
Malaysia, Indonesia’s journey in pushing for green finance
Malaysia and Indonesia are advancing green finance to tackle climate change, but face hurdles like unclear standards and public awareness.
Karbon & Iklim
Ban solar geoengineering
Pangan & Agrikultur
Synergising digital tech and climate tech to enhance Asean climate action
Pangan & Agrikultur
Meat and dairy’s methane emissions must be on the table in 2025
Video
There is consensus that coal needs to be retired early in Asia, but the mechanisms for financing the phase-out are not clear. This mini-documentary examines how transition credits work and whether they can fund Southeast Asia's equitable switch to clean power.
Studio EB
From sponge cities to coastal forests, Asia is seeking ways to work with nature and prepare for the risks in a warmer-than-expected future. This Eco-Business video looks at what else cities need to do to strengthen climate resilience.
Lingkungan
Can the music industry ever reach net zero?
Eksklusif
Jack Johnson says yes, but it is a long road ahead. In this exclusive interview, we ask the American singer-songwriter and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador about his hopes for the state of the world and how music plays a role in providing a dose of optimism in dark times.
Launched as policymakers lock horns with petrochemicals lobbyists over a treaty to end plastic pollution, the documentary produced by Eco-Business asks why opportunities to solve humanity's waste crisis are being wasted. It will premiere in Singapore and screen on the sidelines of the upcoming COP28 climate summit.
Podcasts
Indonesian environmental campaigners took a novel approach to raising climate awareness by publishing five children's books about the country's environmental issues. This podcast explores their creative process and the public's response.
UN climate report authors need to commit to the integrity of assessment processes while working with governments with differing interests. Dr Theresa Wong tells the Eco-Business podcast why the stakes are high to get climate science right.
Studio EB
Plastic waste is flooding the planet. Instead of waiting for regulation to drive change, give value to recyclables and mobilise the people, says Plastic Bank.
Studio EB
With alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuel still too expensive and low in demand for the aviation industry to consider, carbon offsets could be a way to reduce emissions – if used right. EcoSecurities and the International Air Transport Association tell the Eco-Business podcast how airlines can ensure compliance when new regulations become mandatory
