Within a decade, 70 percent of the Earth’s population will live in cities. This reality places them at the forefront of sustainable development and facing global challenges, including climate change.
Urbanization is one of the 21st century’s most transformative trends. Cities are the dominant force in sustainable economic growth, development and prosperity in developed and developing countries. Currently, 54 percent of the world’s population (4 billion people) resides in urban areas. By 2030, 2 billion people will have migrated to cities, placing unprecedented pressure on infrastructure and resources, particularly those related to water.
The world’s ten biggest cities will include:
Tokyo (37.2 million)
Delhi (36.1 million)
Shanghai (30.8 million)
Mumbai (27.8 million)
Beijing (27.7 million)
Dhaka (27.4 million)
Karachi (24.8 million)
Cairo (24.5 million)
Lagos (24.2 million)
Mexico City (23.9 million)
From 2016 to 2030, a 35 percent population increase is expected in these top ten mega cities. Forecasts indicate cities in developing countries including Karachi, Lagos and Dhaka will surpass cities like New York, Osaka and Sao Paolo by 2030. This represents a 50 percent increase in demand for energy and water, generating challenges that exert pressure on water resources and threaten global water security. This has a palpable effect on public health, economies and development. Local solutions for local problems are most suited to meet these challenges.
Furthermore, as more than three-quarters (76 percent) of the world’s mega cities are coastal, there will be a considerable impact on water ecosystems from ridge to reef. Because of this, local and regional authorities lead initiatives targeting water-related obstacles, including housing gaps, climate change and an increased demand for food, energy and water.
Climate change in particular represents a daunting challenge for cities, as 40 percent of the world’s population will live in river basins under severe water stress while 20 percent will risk floods by 2030.
“Flooding and droughts have increased globally and the impact is devastating. Cities across the world are already experiencing effects of climate change. Infrastructure and houses are destroyed and we call on governments to be aware of the effects that adequate water infrastructure can have to improve or aid these situations,” says World Water Council President Benedito Braga.
Financing needs should be centered on urban areas and infrastructure in urban and rural areas that serve these cities, driven by local needs for which local solutions are necessary.
In light of this, five organizations have joined forces to create greater support for these issues. Local Governments for Sustainability, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance, the Brazilian Confederation of Municipalities, and the World Water Council are bringing together decision-makers, local leaders and practitioners to tackle local water challenges. This year, the United Nations has selected the theme Innovative Governance, Open Cities to highlight the importance of urbanization as a source of global development and social inclusion.
Numerous UN sanctioned global agreements compliment these actions, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, the Sendai Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals. Water investment thus becomes a unifying factor in fostering healthier and more prosperous cities, offering impoverished populations a real chance at progress.
“Water has a significant place throughout all these agendas. Local Authorities play an essential role in providing services to their citizens and in ensuring adapted and sustainable infrastructure for their residents,” says UCLG’s Mohamed Boussraoui during a session he moderated on resilient cities during the recent International Conference on Water and Climate held in Marseille last year.
Although much of the implementation of these agendas will be led by national governments, success will also rely on the commitment and empowerment of local and regional authorities to do their part. Cities and regions often lack guidance on how to achieve them locally, contribute to nationally set targets and implement concrete solutions. Mayors, and the networks they belong to, need to develop strategies to deliver and adopt integrated approaches to overcome political, financial, technological and behavioral barriers.
“You can’t find a more intimate link to citizens than local authorities. This relationship of proximity can lead us to mobilize citizens and raise their awareness for issues like no one else,” says Mayor Fatimetou Abdel Malick from Tevragh-Zeina, Mauritania during the recent ICWC conference.
