Greening Urban Spaces

The rapid urbanization of the twenty-first century has presented both challenges and opportunities for creating more livable and environmentally-friendly cities. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 11 is about Sustainable Cities and Communities. In this SDG the UN website observes that presently a majority of the global population resides in urban areas. They estimate that by the year 2050, almost 70% of the global population would reside in metropolitan regions. Urban areas play a key role in economic development and account for over 80% of the world's gross domestic product (GDP). On the other hand, UN observes that they contribute to about 70% of the total worldwide greenhouse gas emissions (Nations, Making Cities and Human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, 2023). When urban development is carefully strategized and effectively administered, it has the potential to be sustainable and foster equitable economic growth.