Localising SDGs for Built Environment & Communities: A North-South Exchange

Dear Colleagues,

While the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a major impetus for the transition of people and the planet toward sustainability, there is ongoing debate on how the overarching vision of SDGs can be translated into the adoption of sustainability in practice. Ways to translate the global SDG vision into local dimensions to effectively incorporate it into local planning and development priorities are also being sought. In their search for equity, efficiency, safety, and liveability, cities around the world face massive challenges in securing funding and adopting suitable governance frameworks to develop and maintain their built environment. There is thus an urgent need for models of successful urban development that are both respectful of the natural environment and ensure the wellbeing of the community.

Cities in the Global South, meanwhile, tend to face additional challenges of dealing with entrenched poverty, resource scarcity, political instability, and weak governance at the local level. On the other hand, they also tend to have effective networks of NGOs and community-based organisations with impressive track records that have often worked with local communities to deliver innovative solutions and enhance community resilience. The SDGs call for a global partnership and north–south exchange for the diffusion of sustainability knowledge and practice within local contexts. This calls for critical debate and investigation to seek answers to many questions, such as:

• How local actions could create cities that are more liveable by increasing community resilience
• How urban ecosystems could be integrated into a sustainable urban landscape
• How co-production and partnership with communities could contribute to resilient outcomes
• How sustainability indicators could be monitored for comparison and benchmarking

The Special Issue on “Localising SDGs for Built Environment & Communities: A North–South Exchange” seeks to initiate a north–south dialogue to foster knowledge exchange and research innovation for effective practice in making cities and communities sustainable. In this regard, we are inviting contribution which demonstrates case studies on emerging practices applying the principles and vision of SDGs and offers opportunities for mutual learning. Submissions are invited on topics such as (but not limited to) the following:

• Local and global engagement and partnerships
• Community participation and capacity building
• Sustainability and safety in the built environment
• Urban poverty and informality
• Climate change adaptation
• Coastal hazards and resilient communities
• Community-based disaster management
• Sustainable transport and energy
• Water-sensitive urban design
• Urban greening
• Circular economy and zero-waste practices
• Net zero transition

This Special Issue is part of Curtin’s Global South Nexus initiative (the Second International Conference on “Localising SDGs for Built Environment & Communities: A North–South Exchange” https://www.gsnconference.com/), but not limited to this conference, it aims to promote partnership and cooperation between the Global North and the Global South.

Dr. Atiq Zaman
Dr. Mohammad Swapan
Guest Editors

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