Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals
Living in India has given me the experience of residing in cities of varying hierarchies, each
with its own set of urban challenges. This exposure has heightened my awareness of these
issues and made inquisitive in seeking solutions. I have consistently found that the answer
lies in 'sustainability,' a concept that, while straightforward, is often manipulated or
misunderstood.
I understand the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a crucial
process to make citizens worldwide grasp the meaning importance of these goals and their
direct relevance to daily life and well-being. One particular experience that profoundly
influenced my perspective was an academic visit to a village in Madhya Pradesh. There, I
observed firsthand how the localization of SDGs can significantly impact the livelihood,
social, and economic dimensions of vulnerable groups.
In this village, I encountered pressing issues such as poverty, hunger, social inequality,
exclusion, and the adverse effects of heat waves, all of which are addressed by the SDGs.
A small yet impactful solution implemented here was the creation of a small skate park,
which incentivized children to attend school in order to skate. This initiative became a
catalyst for change, addressing gender inequality, promoting well-being, and reducing social
exclusion. As a result, the children have become national-level skaters, and every girl in the
village aspires to follow in their footsteps. This along with many other academic experiences
allowed me to closely understand the real problems faced by these communities, problems
that often seem out of reach of the global SDG agendas unless measures are taken to
localize the solutions them in rural and semi-urban areas. The success of such initiatives
highlights the importance of community-led participatory efforts in achieving sustainable
development and underscored the critical need for localized or approaches to ensure that
the benefits of the SDGs reach all segments of society.
India has made strides toward achieving the SDGs by introducing initiatives like Rural
India’s nine LSDGS themes for uplifting rural areas, as well as missions like Smart City and
Swachh Bharat (Clean India), which align with the SDG agenda. While progress has been
made, significant challenges remain. NITI Aayog, the nodal agency tracking SDG progress
at national and sub-national levels, aims to provide a comprehensive overview using
appropriate indicators. However, some indicators do not fully reflect on-ground problems.
This can be addressed by forming designated bodies for local implementation, supporting
Urban Local Bodies in creating Integrated Development Plans, similar to other countries.
My transition from being an architect to aspiring urban designer was driven by exposure to
diverse communities facing unique challenges, making me realize that tailored approaches
to sustainable development are essential. Working on community-impacting projects has
shown me the importance of making global goals relatable and actionable at the grassroots
level. Urban design is crucial in the Global South, where rapid urbanization and climate
challenges demand innovative, context-specific solutions. Encouraging competition among
municipal bodies and educating the masses about the importance of public spaces can
accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
One such project while I was in practice was the restoration of Retteri Lake in Chennai,
aimed at rejuvenating the city's lakes. This project highlighted the challenges posed by
rapid urbanization. The lake's revival was achieved through participatory approaches
involving government, experts, and locals, which should be mandated for all projects to
address real issues. The design incorporated nature-based solutions like blue-green-grey
integration and ecosystem restoration for risk mitigation. Climate-resilient city policies
should go beyond tree planting and green-washing, focusing on restoring ecosystems as
carbon sinks, regulating microclimates, and mitigating disasters prevalent in the Global
South.
Climate change impacts are not equally distributed, with developing countries, particularly in
the Global South, and marginalized groups being especially vulnerable. Living in megacities
like Delhi and Mumbai, I have faced socio-economic and environmental issues such as
flooding, air pollution, heat waves, accessibility, inequality, harassment, and exclusion.
These problems are exacerbated for the underprivileged and vulnerable, contrasting with
my comfortable living conditions in my hometown Amravati.
Most urban populations in the Global South live in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The focus on
global cities creates the impression that the most important urban examples are those at the
top of the hierarchy. However, many cities remain “off the map” due to limited global
connections. Stakeholders, including planners and urban designers, should leverage their
community knowledge to address regional problems through policy-making. Design policies
are urgently needed but are not widely adopted, except in places like Kerala, where design
policies are tailored to sustain spaces equitably and ecologically over time.
The critical question is “sustainability for whom?” Today, one measure of development is
“slum clearance” and “removing informality,” which are not solutions but exacerbate issues.
Localization today demands a toolkit for addressing city-specific problems. Solutions include
focusing on public transit, policy-making, future-oriented design, intrinsic and infill
development, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) with mixed-use models, creative
financing, horizontal integration of departments, data collection and analysis, and
pedestrian-led movement. The UTFORSK project offers an opportunity to utilize my
experiences, gain new insights, and contribute as an urban designer to achieving the SDGs.
