Sustainability has often been considered to be a feature of rural landscapes, when in fact urban areas are home to a myriad of ecosystems and natural wealth, harbouring rich biodiversity.
We are embedded in nature and yet we know very little about it. Rather, we rarely picture a city in our minds when we think about sustainability. All living organisms, including plants, animals and microorganisms, are essential for human existence in cities, yet our decisions often lead to reduction of green coverage over concrete jungle.
On the occasion of International Sustainability Day on October 26, we have to remind ourselves that we must mobilise urban decision makers and citizens to put sustainability at the heart of urban life. We have a unique opportunity to ensure that cities become true drivers of growth, resilience and well-being that operate within healthy social and planetary boundaries.
Cities play a unique role in today’s world. Urbanisation has placed them at the forefront of dealing with some of the most pressing global issues, putting well-being and prosperity at risk, as well as climate change and sustainability.
But imagine a city where buying your favourite products leads to more nature, not less, and where your job can withstand environmental and economic shocks; where the air you breathe is pure and fresh, and where bird song no longer has to compete with the roar of traffic.
Most towns in Odisha are ill-equipped to address the threats urbanisation poses to natural habitats. Even though around 16% of the state’s population lived in urban areas, the figure is projected to reach over two-thirds by 2050.
While Bhubaneswar continues to expand at unprecedented rates, so does the pressure they put on natural resources, ecosystems and the climate. If left unchecked, this puts our livelihoods, sustenance and the very air we breathe under real threat. Thankfully, solutions exist to allow Bhubaneswar to minimise these risks and reinvent itself for the benefit of sustainability.
Some cities have understood the opportunities that addressing sustainability and climate change present and have shown leadership in developing innovative solutions. Despite its small territory, Singapore is home to 4% of the world’s bird species, signalling clearly how rich urban biodiversity can be. In response to increasing urbanisation and the effects of climate change, Singapore transformed itself from a Garden City into A City in a Garden, and then took a bold step to further evolve into sustainability.
Similarly, policies that establish watersheds and restrict construction on wetlands not only maintain natural ecosystems and conserve biodiversity, but also prevent natural risks. Cape Town, for example, prevented a major water shortage by investing in protecting its watershed using nature-based solutions that restore vegetation and degraded land.
Urban agriculture is another approach that could simultaneously address social and environmental concerns. Sustainable urban agriculture has the potential to conserve soil, enhance food security and reduces the impact of long-distance supply chains on the climate and biodiversity loss.
In order to improve quality of life of city dwellers, Bhubaneswar decision makers must become champions of urban sustainability and move away from viewing loss of nature as a rural concern. Beyond the implementation of innovative technologies, financial mechanisms that foster public and private investments in urban sustainability related projects are a central resource for the transition to net-zero.
Strong and diverse partnerships are the foundation to give decision makers the confidence to act based on best practices and make impactful investments at scale. Contributions from the Central government, international organisations, private sector, civil society and academia are needed to drive the much-needed change. Adequately addressing sustainability and nature restoration in cities demand a comprehensive multi-stakeholder approach to align ambitions towards accountable steps and solutions.
Singapore and Cape Town have applied nature-based solutions to achieve climate, ecological and social resilience with innovative modern technology. This paradigm shift focuses on sustainability in the city to make it more liveable and sustainable.
Citizens of all ages must be empowered to be stewards of sustainability. We must all work in synchrony towards encouraging Bhubaneswar to work for both people and the city to ensure their long-term viability.