By the Stockholm+50 Subnational Authorities Stakeholder Engagement Group
Countries may hog the limelight in international negotiations, but most progress on sustainability is won or lost at the local level: shaped by the daily decisions of mayors, city councils, and local and regional governments. Together, they provide the majority of the health, transport, education and economic services on which we rely, and they plan the landscapes in which we live. For decades, local leaders around the world have been testing innovative ways to deliver sustainable solutions at the subnational level. It is critical that Stockholm+50 is informed and inspired by this experience and expertise.
Indeed, this is one objective of the Stockholm+50 Cities High Level Forum. This two-day event is being held on 1 and 2 June, directly before Stockholm+50 itself kicks off on 3 June. Organized by the City of Stockholm and C40, the Cities High-Level Forum and Stockholm+50 can draw out lessons, bring attention to successful initiatives and encourage other subnational actors to pick up their game.
The potential for change is enormous. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities (and this will rise to two-thirds by 2050, on current trends). Cities allow for economies of scale, delivering services to large numbers of people, driving economic growth and innovation, and creating jobs.
But cities are also at the forefront of both the causes and impacts of major environmental challenges such as the climate crisis, pollution and biodiversity loss.
Cities concentrate millions of people into locations that can be highly vulnerable to disaster, pollution and the impacts of the climate crisis. A recent study estimated that compliance with World Health Organization guidelines across 1,000 European cities would save more than 52,000 lives each year. And with 21 of the world’s 33 megacities located in low-lying coastal areas, more than 700 million people worldwide live in urban or quasi-urban areas that are less than 10 metres above sea level. Meanwhile, urban areas account for some 75 per cent of global resource and energy use, while producing more than half of global waste and at least 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
The stakes are huge. The decisions taken in the next few years by local and regional authorities will shape our sustainability and prospects for decades. As much as 75 per cent of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built. The next wave of urbanization will take place predominantly in low- and middle-income countries, which are expected to account for 90 per cent of future urban growth, with much of it in medium-sized cities.
Ultimately, the way we design, plan and manage our lives at the local level will largely determine whether our economies and societies will be able to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and reduce inequality. For that to happen, governments at all levels need to work together to deliver meaningful impact at a landscape scale.
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