Page 17 - Shelter-October-2022

THEME PAPER

source information and “Future-proofing” our valuing existing
transparency increases infrastructure has many ecosystem services,
citizen trust in government benefits: and increasing
planning decisions, increases usage of sustainable
community engagement in − Creating incentives for transportation, cites
urban environment as well as investment in public can both significantly
private investment. transport and non- contribute to the
motorized transport
This strategic response infrastructure will mitigation of harmful
to improve the city’s use improve air quality climate impacts and
of digital infrastructure in cities and help improve their own
provides great scope for to mitigate climate resilience to the inevitable
gender mainstreaming change. resource shortages to
in the city. Evidence- come.
based planning decisions − Creating frameworks • Inclusive urban spaces:
could be taken to identify towards zero Economic and social
gender gaps in mobility, emission, efficient, inequality has been
infrastructure, employment and climate-resilient increasing in recent
opportunities, etc. The buildings and decades. Nowhere
intervention contributes construction sector is this more evident
towards addressing the needs will help to reduce than in cities, where
of marginalized groups, energy demand. resource shortages
specifically women. It is
recommended that key data − Investing in parks and and access to services
disproportionately
green spaces in urban
sets for spatial planning
be collected and assessed, areas will help to impact the most
disaggregated by gender, age, ameliorate the urban marginalized groups
income (and religion, where heat island effect and and communities, often
improve air quality in
relevant). also exposing them to
urban spaces. greater environmental
WAY FORWARD − Investing in natural risks. Policies and
Some key factors for our or efficient water programmes that better
support
underserved
cities to consider for attaining and waste treatment and vulnerable
inclusive and sustainable and management
growth include: systems to improve populations, improve
systems for participatory
water quality and
• Cleaner and greener sanitation in cities will and democratic planning
cities: 75 per cent of the reduce water-borne and decision-making,
infrastructure that will diseases and improve and provide affordable
exist in 2050 does not sanitation for poorer access to resources
exist today. This provides populations. and urban services for
a unique opportunity all will be critical. By
to ensure that the • Resilience: By investing in equity and
infrastructure we build strategically densifying, universal accessibility
today for tomorrow is investing in renewable now, countries and cities
low-emission, resource- energy and sustainable can begin to close the
efficient, and resilient. building techniques, inequality gap.

October, 2022, Volume 23. No.2 - SHELTER 15