11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

(Note: Sotoshu seems not to have posted an essay on 10: Reduced Inequalities.)
Urban areas are the centers of economy and culture, and provide a variety of infrastructures that are essential for daily life.  Currently, the world's population is about 7.7 billion, of which about half live in urban areas. It is expected that the number of people living in urban areas will continue to increase in the future, and by 2050, it is estimated that 70% of the world's population will be living in urban areas.

However, the comfortable life in urban areas causes many problems at the same time.  For example, the formation of slums due to poverty in urban areas, the rise in temperature due to the heat island effect, the decrease in green areas due to urban development, the massive consumption of energy resources, and the depopulation of rural areas due to the movement of population are some of the problems.  To solve these problems, we need to create a sustainable city.

So, what can each of us do?  Why don't we start by finding out what specific problems our own cities are facing and what efforts are being made to solve them?  You are sure to find something that you can participate in on an individual basis, such as volunteer work or community activities, to help create a community where you can continue to live.  If you look at things from a different perspective, such as on your way to and from work or school, a good idea might come up.

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