Stakeholders base future cities and growth on urban planning — Property — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

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

The stakeholders stated this during the second edition of the Future Cities-Africa Green Building Summit 2024, organized 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 provide 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 to 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 realization of sustainable and resilient future cities. He cited such challenges as population growth and urbanization, explaining that by 2030, 60 percent of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas.

“This rapid urbanization is putting pressure on housing, services and infrastructure, leading to overcrowding, slum formation and strain on resources. The challenge is not only to accommodate this influx, but also to ensure that our urban environments can sustain this growth without compromising the quality of life or the integrity of our natural environment,” he said.

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

“It is imperative that we develop strategies to mitigate these impacts and build resilience in 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 the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, envisions that cities where green building practices are the norm, where sustainable construction methods minimize our ecological footprint and where cities utilize 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 advanced technologies and sustainable energy solutions. We must foster partnerships across all sectors, from government to private enterprise and civil society, to catalyse this green transformation.”

Christain Mulamula, Managing Director and Head of the Nigeria Office of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), also stressed the urgency of ramping up water, waste management and electricity infrastructure.

“There are challenges around broadening digital connectivity to include those who have recently urbanized. These challenges that governments and local leaders need to respond to are accompanied by a host of secondary challenges related to sustainability,” he said.

He lamented that more than 90 percent of people living in urban areas worldwide breathe air that is not considered safe by World Health Organization (WHO) standards due to high concentrations of pollutants.

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