With the world population increasing every minute, the need to build modern, sustainable cities also increases. This also calls for urban planning which will lead to the creation of safe, cost and environment friendly cities. This is reflected in the U.N sustainable development goal which intends to ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’
By 2030, almost 75% of the world’s population will live in cities. Cities occupy just 2% of the total land area. However, significant activities and climate change have altered the Earth’s land cover. As a result, the success of this goal is heavily reliant on how cities and communities implement them.
Role of the government
Canada is determined to achieve this goal by ensuring that all its residents have access to good quality housing and live in sustainable with a healthy and accessible environment. Apert from this the government will do the following:
Encourage inclusive governance and participatory, collaborative, and long-term planning and management of cities.
Ascertain that housing programs are appropriate, and safe.
Boost disaster and climate change resilience, especially among the most vulnerable neighborhoods and populations.
Low-carbon growth policies, sustainable waste management, and closed material cycles will help communities reduce their environmental impacts and resource footprints.
Make the transition to more sustainable urban mobility and accessible public transportation.
Ensure that green and public spaces are available.
Multiple objectived
In order to achieve this goal, the Canadian government has a list of objectives it seeks to achieve by 2030, this includes:
- By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
- Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all
- Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
- Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
- Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected
- Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
- Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.
Canada’s determination to provide sustainable housing is a testimony of its desire to meet the U. N’s agenda will ensure a better quality of life for everyone living in Canada including immigrants.