User:Kelly.aquarius1995/sandbox

= Small Community Sustainability Implementation =

Small communities are teeming with opportunities such as being social offerings, openness, education, economy, civic involvement and leadership, economy, safety, and social capital. Since communities are often seen as closely knitted, it is important to regard them as a sort of ecosystem that mutually benefits from each other.

The United Nations created 17 goals to be accomplished by 2030; the eleventh goal - which will be explained in more detail - is about sustainable cities and communities: making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Background
The background for this particular initiative of how we can implement UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities is from the inspiration of a small country in the Caribbean. The country that is being referenced is Belize, with the southernmost district - Toledo - as the main point of interest.

United Nation Sustainable Development Goal 11
The world is constantly growing in population size. To be able to shelter everyone, building cities and communities that are modern and sustainable means doing more good to the world than doing anymore harm. For all of us to survive and prosper, we need to rethink our way of living to newer, innovative and more intelligent planning systems that create safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions.

The following are the targets for Goal 11:

11.1 SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

11.2 AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.

11.3 INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

11.4 PROTECT THE WORLD’S CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

11.5 REDUCE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.

11.6 REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CITIES: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

11.7 PROVIDE ACCESS TO SAFE AND INCLUSIVE GREEN AND PUBLIC SPACES: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

11.8 STRONG NATIONAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

11.9 IMPLEMENT POLICIES FOR INCLUSION, RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.

11.A SUPPORT LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT BUILDING: Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.

Impacts of Urbanization
As we see progress every day, small communities can turn into larger settlements, or as we call them, cities. More than half the population live in cities which asserts the recommendation that small communities should be the starting point of most interest for development.

Large human settlements take up 3% of the planet’s land but are accountable for 60-80% of all energy consumption and 75% of the planet’s carbon emissions. Increased urbanization has placed pressure on water supplies, sullage, the living environment and public health. Our rapidly growing lifestyle is causing congestion, basic services depletion, a shortage of adequate housing, and declining infrastructure.

Unplanned urban spillover  beyond their formal boundaries, can be detrimental to developmental planning - big or small - and to the global goals for sustainable development. Our urban areas are also emitters of greenhouse gasses and contribute to climate change. Half of the global urban population breathes air that is 2.5 times more polluted than standards deemed acceptable by the World Health Organization.

These problems to urban spaces can be made better by improving resource use and focusing on reducing pollution and poverty. The future we want includes urban planning that can offer opportunities for all, and which provide access to basic services, renewable and clean energy, housing plans, sustainable transportation and more. Particularly, in the case of Belize which the focal point is the Toledo District. The country boasts diversity in flora and fauna but even more it is hub for renewable energy in all forms.

Achieving Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
It is important to mention that achieving SDG 11 is not just the responsibility of the governments and conglomerates. Everyone can make small changes in our daily lives in order to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Here are a few things each one of us can do to become closer to SDG 11:


 * Develop participatory platforms so all voices can be heard. This action is extremely important to understand what residents need. Especially for the poorest citizens who need the greatest support but are often unheard and unseen at decision-making tables. Some of these platforms could be round-table discussions, workshops, and also formal meetings.
 * Respect and walk-in dedicated space for pedestrians. Unfortunately, many pedestrians lose their lives on the world’s roads. Therefore, it is more than necessary to create and follow a pedestrian quality space such as sidewalk space to minimize the risk of an accident.
 * Use public transport and/or bike. Taking public transport, cycling or even walking is a good option to directly impact the reduction of gas emissions.
 * Reduce and manage food waste. Much of the food consumed in urban areas is thrown away. Food waste that is not recycled or reused is filling up the landfills, where it decomposes and generates methane, a greenhouse gas.
 * Take advantage of your right to elect the leaders in your local community.
 * Investing in parks and green spaces not only improves air quality but also has a positive impact on your employees. Green spaces across the workplace provide a feeling of less job pressure and greater job satisfaction on employees when compared to views with man-made objects. It has also been reported fewer headaches and other ailments as open spaces provide a sense of rest.


 * Protect and invest in cultural and natural heritage preservation: this includes investment in environmental protection, supporting museums, creating, and transport infrastructure in communities. This is important because not only do these cultural and natural heritage sites provide subsistence for local communities but also contribute to education for visitors.
 * Companies should improve their buildings’ infrastructure sustainability and build facilities according to sustainable building practices that will help to reduce energy consumption.