“The SDGs Are Critical in Everything That We Do”
Political will is a huge factor for effective SDG implementation. Yet, it is equally important that people understand the SDGs as something that directly benefits their daily lives. We spoke to Dr. Isaac Mensa-Bonsu from Ghana’s National Development Planning Commission about their lessons learned in implementing the SDGs.
Interview: The Power of Decentralisation
Ghana is one of the frontrunner countries dedicated to implementing the SDGs. Highlighting the local perspective, one area of implementation is the revision of the country's National Urban Policy. URBANET spoke to Sylvanus K. Adzornu from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development about key drivers for successful implementation of SDGs.
How Can Cities in Digital India Contribute to Building a Circular Economy?
India has embarked on a Smart Cities Mission. But what do “smart” or “digital” cities actually have to deliver if they are to be a new model for sustainable urbanism? Urvashi Aneja analyses opportunities and risks of technological innovation and digital inclusion.
Let’s talk about Urban Governance − Abidjan, Ivory Coast
There has been consent in international debates that implementing the SDGs requires approaching them from a local perspective. In this very personal account, Alexis Gueu talks about the challenges the city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast is facing – and the urgent need for the municipality to develop urban governance structures to tackle these problems.
Why the Way We Work Together Will Determine Our Future
In the third part of our series on the Talanoa Dialogues, Steven Bland from UN-Habitat blogs on the importance of effective multi-level governance for climate change action, and the steps UN-Habitat is taking to promote it.
Reviving the City: How an Asphalt Plant Turned Into a Public Park
In Mexico City, residents organised to convince the city government to build a public park instead of developing an area for office buildings. The Parque Imán can serve as an example for successfully greening neighbourhoods, and reclaiming public space in a participatory and transparent manner.
“We need to be the changemakers in our cities”
URBANET interviewed Shadnaz Azizi, a SDSN Youth Local Pathway Fellow from Tehran, about urban activism in Iran. An urban thinker and advocate, Azizi is passionate about the “in-between spaces” operating between the public and political spheres to campaign for sustainable urban development. She calls for more recognition of the essential role of virtual communities and online platforms in realising sustainable urban development.
“It’s a public space, so we shouldn’t lose it”
The privatisation of public spaces often conflicts with the interests of the general public. So, what can inhabitants do to fight such privatisation processes? URBANET talked to Alissa Raj from Transition TTDI, a residents’ initiative that advocates for keeping a community park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, public.
Adopted Spaces: How Social Life on India’s Streets is Increasingly Threatened by Top-down City Planning
In India’s bustling cities, time spent in public spaces is an integral component of everyday life. Street design that focuses on motorised traffic does not take into account this human quality of street life. Instead, local practices and human activity should inform city planning, argues Sneha Mandhan.