Urban October 2023 shines spotlight on sustainable development

Sustainable urbanisation is one of the top concerns for global development, according to the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, which is to “make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.” With the UN’s endorsement of the New Urban Agenda in 2016, national and municipal governments worldwide have begun a revolutionary journey to realise SDG 11. Over 65 per cent of the SDG targets pertain to the duties and responsibilities of local governments.

Cities are where the bulk of the world’s population resides, and they are hubs of creativity, culture, and commerce. They are also sources of emissions, congestion, and inequality. This dual role places cities at the heart of the global sustainability agenda. Urban October underscores the importance of localising the global agenda. While international agreements are essential, it’s at the local level that the rubber meets the road. Cities are the spaces where global commitments take shape in the form of local policies, projects, and actions.

Urban October was started to raise awareness, share knowledge, and pledge action for the sustainable development of cities. The month’s events take place on specific days or at any time during the month, starting on the first Monday of October with World Habitat Day and ending on October 31st with World Cities Day. This year, World Habitat Day was observed on October 2, 2023, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The theme for this year is “Resilient urban economies: Cities as drivers of growth and recovery.”

According to the 2023 Financing for Sustainable Development Report by the United Nations, development financing is not keeping up with the expanding needs for financing SDGs. Hunger and poverty have worsened, and progress on the SDGs has been reversed as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and recently in Palestine, high price rises for food and energy, and quickly tightening financial circumstances. Climate Finance has also been under the spotlight last year since COP27. But to realise all of the finance needs for climate Action and sustainable development, it is cities that need access to finance.

Urban October provides a platform for sharing local innovations that carry the potential for global impact. For instance, Dubai Municipality is included in this year’s list of recipients of the Scroll of Honour Award for its initiative in putting the integrated fat, oil, and grease waste (FOG) recycling project into action. A significant amount of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) waste is poured down the Dubai Municipality drains because the city is home to over 8,000 restaurants and hotels that produce huge amounts of food. These FOG clogs can cause sewer flooding and odour issues, among other problems. In 2009, the Dubai Municipality and Al Serkal Group founded a facility for recycling food-grade garbage (FOG) from restaurants and hotels. After being treated, this waste sent to the factory yields soil, water, and oil that may be utilised again for irrigation and composting. Such innovative solutions exemplify how local actions can have a global impact and provide solutions to many other cities. It is increasingly becoming evident that Urban October is not only help raise awareness but also demonstrates the potential for urban areas to lead the way in fostering resilience, growth, and sustainable development. The road to a more sustainable future begins right in our cities.