The construction of more sustainable cities is a challenge that can only be achieved based on modern and innovative models, capable of building instruments for bringing together the efforts of the public sphere, especially, in this case, in its municipal dimension, with the forces of society civil and business initiative.
With this premise, the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) launched on April 27th, at the IV Meeting of Municipalities with Sustainable Development (EMDS) held in Brasília, the publication “Urban Sustainability: a new agenda for cities” on how Brazilian municipalities can adapt to the Purpose of Sustainable development (SDGs) proposed by the UN for Cities (SDG11) and become more sustainable cities.
Keep reading and understand what the Urban Sustainability Agenda: a new agenda for cities.
What is the Cities Agenda?
The idea of Agenda Cities is to show mayors the city's relationship with the SDGs, created by the UN, and which must be worked on during their term of office.
Many of these objectives are previously addressed in Brazilian legislation.
For example: there is already a national policy to deal with climate change, made official in December 2009. Likewise, there is also a federal policy for water resources management and basic sanitation.
These are actions at a national level that directly interfere in municipal management.
How was the Agenda created?
The first step was precisely to organize this federal survey and verify the main Brazilian public policies regarding the topic of sustainable urban development, related to the publication's initiatives and which reflect on municipalities' obligations regarding the SDGs.
Soon after, a series of concrete actions developed in private and public spheres were listed. The selection includes internal initiatives from CEBDS, associates, partner public bodies and even ideas put into practice in other municipalities.
The concern was to present successful projects that could be replicated in cities and stimulated by public-private partnerships (PPP).
What does the Agenda contain?
The Agenda can be divided into three parts:
- The Sustainable Development Goals;
- Brazil and Sustainable Urban Development (Legislation);
- The role of multisectoral initiatives in the development of cities.
Understand what each of them is dedicated to:
The Sustainable Development Goals
The Agenda was designed with mayors and municipal managers in mind, including those who have little familiarity with the subject. All SDGs were listed, especially 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, which addresses precisely the issue of urban sustainability.
This way, the general public can have a better understanding of what the document is about.
Legislation
The main current laws that provide for the adoption of sustainable practices at the federal level and that need to be addressed in Brazilian municipalities were mapped. This way, all mayors can have a vision of what they should do to adapt to the national sustainability policy.
The role of multisectoral initiatives in the development of cities
Initiatives and projects developed in Brazilian cities were presented that illustrate new ways for municipal governments to act in partnership with society and how different sectors can work together, promoting sustainable urban development. Finally, there are a series of suggestions that can support mayors in their work to propose sustainable improvements for the city.
HABITAT III
In 2016, the CEBDS participated in the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), a sign that the issue of urban development is not just a responsibility of governments, but also of other sectors of society, such as the business sector and civil society. The UN event takes place every 20 years.
If you want more information about this and more sustainable development events, keep following our blog!
