Over the past century, urbanization has reshaped our world: around 4.4 billion people live in cities today - 56% of the global population; in 1950 this figure was only around 750 million, amounting to less than 30% of the world’s population at the time. By 2050, nearly 70% of the world's population, or almost nine billion people, will reside in urban areas. This shift has elevated cities into economic powerhouses that foster innovation, economic development, and social interactions.
However, this has come at a cost: often prioritizing immediate economic gains, the fast and unplanned expansion of cities around the world has created a variety of challenges that have a negative impact on both people and the environment, significantly contributing to the intensification of the global climate and biodiversity crises.
Global projections show that urbanization is continuing, and is concentrated in developing countries, where the urban poor disproportionally endure the worst of the environmental problems caused by this trend. This means that sustainable urban solutions developed and led by local communities are more important than ever if we are to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable - all aspirations under Sustainable Development Goal 11 as part of the 2030 Agenda.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is at the forefront of supporting local communities in developing their own sustainable urban solutions. Currently active in 127 countries, including 37 Small Islands Developing States and 40 Least Developed Countries, SGP provides financial and technical support to CSOs and community-based organizations at the local level to drive initiatives that address global environmental issues while improving livelihoods.
Key areas of focus for SGP’s work on sustainable cities include clean energy access and sustainable transport, urban waste and chemical management, urban green space management and biodiversity conservation, land use planning, climate action and disaster risk reduction, capacity development, policy dialogues, education, awareness, and advocacy, among others.
Read the full story to see some examples of SGP projects that have successfully managed to address key urban environmental issues across these multiple focal areas.