Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable Development from edX

According to the United Nations, urbanization and population growth could result in an increase of 2.5 billion people into urban populations by 2050, with associated impacts ranging from increased transportation needs to more building. How do we make cities sustainable to support this growth?

In this mini-series, learn the challenges of local governments to adapt to new technologies, energy systems, modes of transportation and more in order to build the sustainable cities of the 21st century.

This mini-series is a companion piece to the SDG Academy's full-length Sustainable Cities course.

This course is for:

Anyone new to the concept of sustainable cities or smart cities who wants to understand the foundations of modern urban development
Graduate students and advanced undergraduate students in architecture, real estate development, sustainable development, sustainable business and other related fields who want a concise overview of the concept of sustainable cities
Sustainable development practitioners interested in the basics of sustainable development for cities around the world
Private-sector actors, such as those who work in technology, telecommunications, transportation or the energy industry – whose work can contribute to and redefine this space

What's inside

Learning objectives

The basics of sustainability
The sustainable development goals and how they apply to cities

What constitutes a sustainable city
How various sectors contribute to modern, sustainable urban development

The basics of sustainability
The sustainable development goals and how they apply to cities
What constitutes a sustainable city
How various sectors contribute to modern, sustainable urban development

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to the SDGs

Professor Jeffrey Sachsintroduces the SDGs and their importance.This module briefly describes the importance of creating sustainable living spaces and what we can expect from a future that is built on the principles of economic prosperity, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Module 2: Why Cities? The Importance of SDG 11

Professor Sachs talks about the ideas and thought-processes that are used to work towards achieving sustainable cities. He elaborates the circumstances in which SDG 11 was created, and uses current data to estimate future global needs and the expectations that must be fulfilled to establish sustainable cities. The outcomes of modifying and designing cities for the increasing world population are also elaborated.

Module 3: The 10-Point Agenda for 21st-Century Cities

Professor Sachs discusses the pros and cons of advancements in science and technology. He outlines a 10-point agenda for sustainable cities and discusses each topic individually to elaborate the breadth and depth of this complex issue.

Module 4: Urban Environment and Energy Systems

Professor Sachs highlights the escalating issues due to climate change and pollution and establishes the urgent need to achieve clean and smart cities. To illustrate the limited timeline under which sustainability must be achieved, he uses current data to forecast possible future solutions. Thismodule also includes examples of new methods and cutting-edge technologies that can be used to achieve SDG 11.

Module 5: Cities as Hubs of Knowledge

This concluding module draws on the cross-cutting issues previously discussed, including the importance of developing urban settlements into smart, shared spaces that foster creativity and knowledge growth. Using case studies, Professor Sachs provides further examples of how this is being done across the world, and how this method can be applied in the future.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces core development principles within the context of sustainable cities and smart cities

Provides a concise overview of the concept of sustainable cities

Taught by a recognized expert in sustainable development and economics

Covers a broad range of topics, including sustainable development goals, urban planning, energy systems, and urban environment

Suitable for learners with no prior knowledge of sustainable cities or smart cities

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable Development with these activities:

Review Basic Statistics

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Refresh your understanding of basic statistical concepts to enhance your ability to analyze sustainable development data.

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Review concepts such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation
Practice calculating these statistics using a calculator or spreadsheet

Develop an Infographic on Sustainable Transportation

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Create a visually engaging infographic that communicates the importance and benefits of sustainable transportation in urban environments.

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Gather data and information on sustainable transportation options
Design an infographic that effectively presents the data
Share your infographic on social media or a relevant online platform

Read Jeffrey Sachs' The Age of Sustainable Development

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Build on the foundational concepts of the course and deepen your knowledge by exploring Jeffrey Sachs' comprehensive work on sustainable development.

View Sustainable Development Report 2022 on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: The Imperative for Sustainable Development
Summarize the key arguments and concepts presented in Chapter 1
Reflect on how the ideas in Chapter 1 relate to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Five other activities

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Explore Case Studies of Sustainable Cities

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Gain practical insights into the implementation of sustainable development principles by examining case studies of successful sustainable cities.

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Select a case study of a sustainable city
Analyze the city's sustainability initiatives and outcomes
Identify the key factors that contributed to the city's sustainability success

Analyze Sustainable Development Indicators

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Develop your analytical skills by working with real-world data to assess urban sustainability performance.

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Obtain data on sustainable development indicators for a specific city or region
Use statistical tools to analyze the data and identify trends
Develop insights and recommendations based on your analysis

Develop a Sustainable City Plan

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Apply the principles of sustainable development to a real-world scenario by creating a comprehensive plan for a sustainable city.

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Research best practices for sustainable urban planning
Identify the key challenges and opportunities for sustainability in a specific city or region
Develop a plan that outlines strategies for addressing these challenges and achieving sustainability goals
Present your plan to a group of peers or experts for feedback

Attend a Smart Cities Workshop

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Engage with experts and practitioners in the field of smart cities to gain firsthand knowledge and insights into the latest technologies and best practices.

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Identify a relevant smart cities workshop or conference
Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions and networking opportunities
Follow up with speakers or attendees to continue learning and exchange ideas

Participate in a Local Sustainability Initiative

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Gain practical experience and contribute to your community by volunteering with an organization focused on sustainable development.

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Identify a local sustainability initiative or organization
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities
Attend volunteer events or participate in ongoing projects

Career center

Learners who complete Cities and the Challenge of Sustainable Development will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Architect

Architects design and oversee the construction of buildings. With a focus on sustainability, this course helps to build a foundation for architects to design buildings that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The course covers topics such as sustainable building materials, renewable energy sources, and green building techniques, all of which are essential knowledge for architects who want to create sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

Urban Planner

Urban planners develop plans for the development and use of land in cities. This course can help urban planners to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as land use planning, transportation planning, and environmental planning, all of which are essential knowledge for urban planners who want to create sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Environmental Engineer

Environmental engineers develop solutions to environmental problems. This course can help environmental engineers to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as air pollution, water pollution, and solid waste management, all of which are essential knowledge for environmental engineers who want to create sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability consultants help organizations to develop and implement sustainability strategies. This course can help sustainability consultants to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as sustainability reporting, greenhouse gas accounting, and life cycle assessment, all of which are essential knowledge for sustainability consultants who want to help organizations create sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

Energy Manager

Energy managers develop and implement energy efficiency programs. This course can help energy managers to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as energy auditing, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, all of which are essential knowledge for energy managers who want to create sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Energy Manager

Transportation Planner

Transportation planners develop plans for the transportation system in cities. This course can help transportation planners to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as public transportation, walking, and biking, all of which are essential knowledge for transportation planners who want to create sustainable cities.

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Water Resource Manager

Water resource managers develop plans for the management of water resources in cities. This course can help water resource managers to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as water conservation, water quality, and wastewater treatment, all of which are essential knowledge for water resource managers who want to create sustainable cities.

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Renewable Energy Project Developer

Renewable energy project developers develop and implement renewable energy projects. This course can help renewable energy project developers to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy, all of which are essential knowledge for renewable energy project developers who want to create sustainable cities.

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Environmental Policy Analyst

Environmental policy analysts develop and analyze environmental policies. This course may help environmental policy analysts to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as environmental law, environmental economics, and environmental impact assessment, all of which may be useful for environmental policy analysts who want to create sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Policy Analyst

Sustainable Business Consultant

Sustainable business consultants help businesses to develop and implement sustainability strategies. This course may help sustainable business consultants to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as sustainability reporting, greenhouse gas accounting, and life cycle assessment, all of which may be useful for sustainable business consultants who want to help businesses create sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainable Business Consultant

Social Entrepreneur

Social entrepreneurs develop and implement social enterprises that address social problems. This course may help social entrepreneurs to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as social innovation, social impact measurement, and social enterprise financing, all of which may be useful for social entrepreneurs who want to create sustainable cities.

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Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations. This course may help nonprofit managers to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as nonprofit governance, fundraising, and program evaluation, all of which may be useful for nonprofit managers who want to create sustainable cities.

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Community Organizer

Community organizers work to empower communities to solve their own problems. This course may help community organizers to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as community development, citizen participation, and advocacy, all of which may be useful for community organizers who want to create sustainable cities.

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Journalist

Journalists report on news and current events. This course may help journalists to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as environmental reporting, data journalism, and investigative journalism, all of which may be useful for journalists who want to report on sustainable development and sustainable cities.

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Educator

Educators teach students about various subjects. This course may help educators to understand the challenges of sustainable development and how to create sustainable cities. The course covers topics such as environmental education, sustainability education, and global education, all of which may be useful for educators who want to teach about sustainable development and sustainable cities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educator