Stakeholders hinge future cities, growth on urban planning

Stakeholders in the environmental and construction industry have stated that the growth and success of future cities in Africa depend on urban planning and development.

The stakeholders stated this at the second edition of the Future Cities-Africa Green Building Summit 2024, organised by the Green Building Council of Nigeria (GBCN) with the theme; “Building Resilient Futures: Integrating Carbon Neutrality, Circular Economy, and Inclusive Urban Development.”

The summit aims to proffer ways to transform cities to achieve a sustainable and resilient future. In his keynote address, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, noted that urban planning and development are vital in creating vibrant, sustainable, and equitable cities, ensuring a balanced approach to growth that integrates development with essential infrastructure, services, and environmental considerations.

The governor, who spoke on ‘Future Cities of Africa: A Vision for Tomorrow’s Urban Landscape,’ lamented that the challenges facing future cities would hamper the realisation of sustainable and resilient future cities. He listed those challenges as population growth and urbanisation explaining that by 2030, 60 per cent of the world’s population is expected to reside in urban areas.

“This rapid urbanisation pressures housing, services, and infrastructure, leading to overcrowding, slum formation, and resource strain. The challenge is not merely in accommodating this influx but in ensuring that our urban environments can sustain this growth without compromising the quality of life or the integrity of our natural surroundings,” he stated.

Bago noted that climate change and sustainability are other challenges to future cities. “Cities are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly through transportation, energy consumption, and waste management. Climate change poses substantial risks, including sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and heat waves.

“It is imperative that we develop strategies to mitigate these effects and build resilience within our urban centres. This includes reducing our carbon footprint, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and implementing sustainable practices in all facets of urban life,” he said.

The governor, represented by Prof. Bayo Amole of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, envisions cities, where green building practices are standard, where sustainable building methods minimise our ecological footprint, and where cities are energised by renewable resources, as well as water conservation and proactive waste management, will be fundamental to urban planning.

To achieve this, he said: “We must unite in a collective shift towards innovation, embracing cutting-edge technologies and sustainable energy solutions. We must foster partnerships across all sectors, from government to private enterprises and community organisations, to catalyse this green transformation.”

Also, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Principal Officer and Head of Office, Nigeria, Christain Mulamula, noted the urgency to ramp up water, waste management, and electricity infrastructure.

“There are challenges around broadening digital connectivity to include those who are recently urbanised. These challenges to which governments and local leaders must respond come with a mountain slew of secondary challenges linked to sustainability,” he said

He lamented that more than 90 per cent of the people living in urban areas worldwide are breathing air that is not considered safe under World Health Organisation (WHO) standards due to high levels of pollutants.

Mulamula, therefore, called on the private sector to promote sustainable urban development. “Beyond the business opportunities created, promoting sustainable development can enhance a company’s brand and their reputation.”