5 May 2015
UNCTAD Report Addresses Role of STI in Sustainable Urbanization
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A report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlights the experiences of cities around the world applying a range of science, technology and innovation (STI) solutions, including new and emerging technologies, innovative approaches to urban planning and institutional innovation.

‘Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Urbanization' is being released at the 18th session of UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), which is convening in Geneva, Switzerland, from 4-8 May 2015.

UNCTAD5 May 2015: A report from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlights the experiences of cities around the world applying a range of science, technology and innovation (STI) solutions, including new and emerging technologies, innovative approaches to urban planning and institutional innovation. Titled ‘Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Urbanization,’ the report is being released at the 18th session of UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), which is convening in Geneva, Switzerland, from 4-8 May 2015.

The report’s findings were discussed during a ministerial roundtable on ‘Managing the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the sustainable development goals (SDGs): the role of science, technology and innovation.’

Anne Miroux, UNCTAD, emphasized that STI can help address urban challenges, regarding, for example, spatial planning, mobility and traffic congestion, energy consumption, water and waste management, and resource-efficient buildings. She added that the report examines these issues, focusing, in particular, on policy implications and practical guidelines on using STI for sustainable cities.

The report includes a section on urbanization and sustainability with subsections on urbanization trends, sustainable urbanization, the role of STI in the urban context, and cities as systems. Another section on sustainable urban planning addresses: density, land use and spatial planning; mobility; and resilience against natural hazards. A section on sustainable urban resource management discusses: energy for cities; solid waste management; resource-efficient buildings; and water and agriculture. The reports recommendations and conclusions focus on: urbanization as a key consideration in national innovation systems; mobilizing the private sector and civil society; innovative governance and financing models; inter-city learning as a opportunity area; and cities undergoing a process of perpetual urbanization.

UN bodies are increasingly paying attention to the issue of sustainable urbanization, notes UNCTAD. For example, the first UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Integration Segment, held in 2014, focused on this theme. [UNCTAD Press Release] [Publication: Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Urbanization] [ECOSOC Integration Segment Website]

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