Page 3 - U4SSC - A UN initiative

United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC)

A UN Initiative

The challenge of urbanization

Urbanization presents unprecedented challenges. Most probably, with the exponential
growth of the urban population, by the middle of the twenty-first century, four out of
every five people will be living in cities. While cities are engines of economic growth, they
also face diverse urban development challenges, including uncontrolled urbanization,
urban sprawl, informal constructions, demographic challenges such as ageing or
migration, homelessness, climate change and environmental pollution, outdated urban
infrastructure and a lack of access to affordable and adequate housing. The efforts of

countries and cities to address these challenges are hindered by disasters, such as
earthquakes, floods and the spread of diseases that have devastating impacts on the
quality of life and urban economies. It is expected, for example, that the economic crisis
resulting from the COVID-19 virus pandemic will affect long-term global economic
and social development much more than the global financial crash of 2008.

The need for guidance

In this context, there is an urgent need to identify and apply innovative solutions to

support the sustainable development of cities. Policymakers at all levels, businesses
and civil society organizations require better guidance and support to develop
adequate evidence-based policy measures and tools to address urban challenges, and
to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The potential: people-centred technologies and tools

The use of digital technologies and other means to improve quality of life, enhance the

efficiency of urban operation and services, and competitiveness are now more needed
than ever. This of course needs to happen while ensuring that the needs of present
and future generations are met in the full respect of economic, social, environmental
as well as cultural aspects and values of society; in brief, technologies and tools need
to be put at the service of the people.

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