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Source: UN SDG 11 2023 Infographic https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2309739_E_SDG_2023_infographics-11-11.pdf

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Traveling Green (Epic)- case studies at end

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Traveling Green (Epic)- case studies at end

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 📑🌍 What are SDGs? 👧👦

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Highly recommended but challenging!

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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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Get unlimited access to 40,000 of the best books, audiobooks, videos, & more for kids 12 and under. Try it free.

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Click on "Why We Need Town Planners"

Run time: 3:48

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Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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Taking into account needs, time, and the environment.

The roads in your town may look all squiggly and funny but there's a very good reason they're built that way!

Towns are really carefully designed and planned thanks to people called town planners. But what is a town planner and what do town planners actually do?

First of all, you've got planners who concentrate on transport, like where roads will go. Then there's planners who are experts on buildings.

There are strategic planners who work out what a big area of the country should look like and what the overall priorities are. These planners usually work for the government or local councils.

And finally there's the planners who make it all happen! They're in charge of deciding where to put things and what everything will look like in detail. They also make sure that the roads, houses, factories are built safely and with the strategic plan in mind.

Click here to find out more about town planning!

Planning is about helping to physically shape the places where we live, work, and play. A key strength of planners is that they can take a step back and consider the bigger picture.

Just think of some of the hurdles these town planners must face!

All planners make it simpler by keeping three aims in mind.

1. Plans should be INCLUSIVE - that means that as much as possible, everyone's needs are taken into account.

2. They also try to make the plans RESILIENT - strong plans that will stand the test of time

3. And the plans should be SUSTAINABLE - balancing everyone's needs as best as possible.

You just need to Plan It. And who better to help than AGENT PLAN-IT!

Find out more about town planning with Agent Plan-It: Town Planning for Kids!

Podcasts

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Inclusive, resilient, sustainable: How do town planners build for the future? - Fun Kids - the UK's children's radio station

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If you turn on the news, chances are you'll hear a story about housing. It may seem like a new issue but the problem of housing has existed forever! As humans, where we live, work, and play is really important.

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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SDG 11 and Cities Book Collection on Epic

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Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

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Sustainable Cities and Communities 🏙️ SDG 11 🌿 Sustainable Development Goals for Kids

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Cities are essential to the world economy, as they generate over 80% of the world's GDP. But they also consume most of the world's energy, and most of our cities were not built with sustainability in mind.

On top of that, cities are growing hugely, mainly in the developing world, both in number and size, and most scientists expect the world to get hotter on average.

The need for sustainable cities emerges from this complex picture. But sustainability goes beyond environmental targets, and involves other things that people need and see as important, such as jobs, health, education, safety, and a vibrant quality of life.

But what does this all mean? We've asked Richard Bellingham, Director of the Institute for Future Cities at the University of Strathclyde, to explain what a sustainable city looks like in practice.

Greener cities

There is no single environmental solution that can be applied to all cities across the world - their issues, needs and opportunities are different. But a big issue that needs to be tackled everywhere is where cities obtain their energy, and how they use it. This means the main ways cities can become greener are to:

Reduce the amount of energy and resources used through improving the efficiency of systems, for example transport, and changing citizens' behaviours

Reuse and recycle waste energy and materials

Obtain energy from cleaner sources

While there is no single technological magical bullet, cities can make significant reductions in the carbon emissions by using many different measures together. Here are some of them.

Clean energy

Many cities can create cleaner energy within their boundaries but, as they consume tons of energy, it's very unlikely that most cities could be "self-sufficient" in that respect. The good news is that they don't need to be, as they can draw in clean energy from other sources, for example offshore wind farms.

Clean ways to generate energy in a city include: converting the Sun's energy into electricity; using building design and solar thermal panels to heat buildings and water; using timber from local woodlands to generate low-carbon energy for heating, electricity generation, and transport fuels; and what is known as geothermal energy, which means generating heat from hot layers beneath the Earth's surface.

Affordability is a key issue here as the costs of clean energy can vary massively from one place to another.

Buildings and streets

Buildings often use the most energy and emit the biggest quantities of carbon in cities. There are some very interesting examples of how cities around the world have approached this issue.

For example, we know creating efficient buildings (insulating walls, windows, and roofs, and using energy-efficient lighting and heating systems) is often more cost effective and productive than generating green energy. The German Passive House design is an example of a building so highly insulated it has almost no need to be heated.

New York and Singapore have shown how tiny steps such as painting roofs white and planting trees can reduce city temperatures by up to 2C, thus reducing city energy consumption significantly.

In Scandinavian and Eastern European countries, hot water for heating is delivered to buildings through insulated pipes beneath the streets. The heat can be generated from highly efficient power stations that generate both electricity and heat, or use heat recovered from businesses such as breweries, bakeries, and distilleries.

In the UK, Glasgow is fitting smart street lights in some areas. Older yellow sodium street lights can be replaced with LED lights that can reduce emissions while making streets safer.

Transport systems

Transport systems are vital to the smooth running of a city, but they can also produce traffic jams, poor air quality, and gas emissions. Ideally we need to reduce the number of private cars on the streets, but some cities around the world have come up with some interesting ideas.

Edinburgh has one of the largest car sharing clubs in the UK, meaning households who subscribe don't necessarily own their own cars, but pay to join a club and use a car only when they need it.

Copenhagen encourages cycle commuting through cycles being given priority at traffic lights, creating a 'green wave'.

Cities like London and Singapore have created high-quality bus and underground rail systems, as well as low-emission zones where only electric vehicles are allowed.

Products and services

It's easy to forget about it - but the food we eat, the cars we drive, the concrete in our buildings, and everything we buy in shops comes with a carbon footprint. That carbon footprint is often higher when things travel thousands of miles to reach us, like the fresh food in the supermarket. Locally sourced products can have a lower carbon footprint and be more sustainable.

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Many cities have 'sustainability goals', but that goes beyond environmental targets. So what does that all mean?

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Understand Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (Primary)

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How does Earth's surface affect culture?

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How does Earth's surface affect culture?

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Have you ever visited a foreign country? What about a large city with lots of ? If you've done either of these things, you've probably gotten a of how different people can be from different areas of the world.

Culture is the word we use to describe all the ways of life that characterizes a particular of people. With over seven billion people on Earth, there are thousands of different cultures, each of which makes its own special contribution to Earth's wonderful .

Why are there so many different cultures on Earth? If you think about it for a while, you'll realize that there are so many ways that people can be different. These factors - called components - include, among others, language, religion, cuisine, technology, art, music, , education, economy, government, and .

? Yes! Although it makes perfect , many people don't give much thought to how where they live impacts their culture. There are even scientists who study this phenomenon, which is known as . is the study of components and how they relate to the of the places where people live and travel.

Today's advanced technology and of travel has led to a level of globalization that makes it possible for components to travel around the world. Cultures that were once hidden from the rest of the world can now be studied and appreciated by the rest of the world.

Those who study have long understood the close link between cultures and the physical of the environments in which those cultures develop. At first, particular cultures develop because of the physical landscape. Over time, those cultures their own on the landscape around them.

So how does affect the cultures that develop around it? Experts point to the of certain physical features, such as landforms, climates, and natural vegetation. Let's take a closer look at how each of these features might affect culture.

Landforms might include physical features like mountains or oceans. If you live in the mountains, you're likely to develop a particular culture that adapts to life at a high altitude. For example, you might wear heavier clothing and tend to be physically stronger as a result of climbing often. On the other hand, living near an ocean might mean you wear lighter clothing and incorporate swimming and fishing into your culture to a great extent.

Climate can greatly affect culture, too. Compare the Inuit peoples of Alaska with the desert-dwelling nomads of North Africa. These two cultures are extremely different in many ways, and most of those ways can probably be traced back to the differences in climate. Hot weather drives one to travel routinely in search of water and other necessities, while cold weather prevents the other from traveling for much of the year.

Natural vegetation impacts what type of culture develops in terms of cuisine and economy. Are farm lands available and productive? If so, plant-based diets might be very popular, and an agricultural economy might thrive. If not, other foods may become dominant while other types of economies take .

Even if you've never thought about it before, the culture you identify with has been developed and shaped by the physical features of the lands where you live. When you want to study your roots, you might be surprised that the physical roots that grow deep into Earth's surface have a lot to do with how your roots developed!

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How Does Earth's Surface Affect Culture?

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How much does where you live affect who you are? Find out today in Wonderopolis!

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Built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers, Epic safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under.

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online access fun thousands children great kids ebooks books

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SDG 11 Trash & Recycling Book Collection on Epic

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Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can learn and explore.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals | Sustainable Cities and Communities (11)

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Currently, around half of the world's population live in cities - but by 2050 they're set to become even more crowded, with an additional 2.5 billion people!

All these extra inhabitants will need places to live, transport to get around, and energy to power their homes. This will put extra pressure on Earth's resources - which is why we need to come up with environmentally-friendly ways to construct buildings, travel and generate power.

Let's take a look at some of the high-tech sustainable solutions being developed by materials company Covestro for the cities of the future ...

Technology could make travel safer, more sustainable, and more efficient than ever before. Here's how...

Self-driving cars

In the future, our cars will be electric and they'll all be able to drive themselves - some of them won't even have steering wheels! How will it work? Well, sensors, radars and cameras will help cars coordinate - they'll whizz and weave past one another like an elegant ballet!

- Passengers can daydream while gazing out of the panoramic roof. Front seats swivel round so everyone can socialise. And interactive, animated holographic screens will be built right into car dashboards.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Do you ever have issues with buffering or slow downloads? Well, in the cities of the future, super-fast 5G internet networks will be everywhere, transforming the way we live...

'Smart' street furniture

- 5G transmitters will need to be installed every 500 metres - they could be on lamp posts, waste bins and traffic lights.

Most of the homes that will make up our future cities already exist today. And to solve the climate emergency we need to make these older buildings energy efficient ...

Innovative insulation

Covestro has come up with a material called cardyon® which is made from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide ( CO₂).
The innovative CO₂ technology could be used to make insulation, which would not only reduce CO₂ in the atmosphere, but prevent future emissions, too. Wow!

- In the USA, up to 90% of existing homes may be under insulated leaking up to 30% of the energy produced.

Pre-fab homes

Many homes of the future will be ' pre-fabricated' - meaning pre- made. Structures such as walls are created off site, and then slotted together! Covestro's PUREWall structures can be put up in half the time of regular buildings, saving energy and money.

Pre-fab homes could be used to house refugees, or after natural disasters. They could also replace the world's 200 million slums.

Touch-controlled smart lock!

Super-realistic interactive holographic visuals will appear in our urban environments. Pokémon Go is a popular example of AR today!

Glasses

Virtual reality (VR)

VR will be more commonplace, allowing us to immerse ourselves in TV and video games, visit galleries, and travel virtually to different places.

Wind power goes big!

- Experts believe we will be able to power cities with 100% renewable electricity by as early as 2040!

Covestro manager Rebecca Heil tells us about some of the exciting new ideas that the materials company is working on...
Hi Rebecca! You set up Covestro's idea.lab, where scientists come together to solve problems. What are some of the biggest challenges facing the future?
Definitely climate change and the environment! Right now, the world still relies too much on fossil fuels for our energy, and landfill for our waste. We need to become more environmentally aware, fast! Scientists across the globe, including at Covestro, are working on ways to help.
What are some recent ideas Covestro has come up with that will help the environment? Is it true you are recycling greenhouse gases? Cool! Can you tell us about more things we can expect to see in the future? What about entertainment?
Recently we worked with the Research & Development Team at Sony to create a holographic-like display - similar to the sort of thing you've probably seen in sci-fi movies! It can project floating images within a 360-degree direction while being transparent. This was possible thanks to a special photopolymer film developed by our scientists.
Wow! What do you like best about your job? Do you have any advice for kids who want to work in science?
When I was a kid, I thought all scientists wore white coats
and spent their days looking through microscopes. This isn't true at
all - there's so much variety in science. From art to marine biology, science is everywhere! Talk to as many people as you can to find out about the science that's in their lives.
Finally, if kids enter the Covestro Future Cities competition (right), what kinds of things will you be looking for in their designs?
I'm looking forward to seeing really creative ideas - I'd love to be surprised and think: 'I never thought of that!' Carefully drawn, beautiful posters will always stand out, too, especially if they're a bit different in their style - be brave and adventurous in the way you approach it!
Thanks, Rebecca!

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FUTURE CITIES - National Geographic Kids

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Discover what our cities might look like in 30 years' time and take a look at the high-tech sustainable solutions being created for them.

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Let’s make a change: sustainability! - National Geographic Kids

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Learn all about sustainability and why moving towards a circular economy will protect our planet for generations to come!

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Today, more than half of the world's population lives in cities (that's 4.4 billion people!) and in the future, cities will grow even bigger. In fact, - almost 7 billion people may live in cities by the year 2050. What will cities look like in 30 years? As the growing population leads to demand for even more of Earth's resources, the time has come to find ways to make cities greener and more liveable. Read on and find out more about how we can build a sustainable city and why it is so important for the future and wellbeing of our planet and its inhabitants.
What Is A Sustainable City?

A sustainable city is one that is able to take care of its people for a long time. To do so, it needs to be able to face the challenges of the future. Can it provide food, housing, and electricity for a growing population without harming the planet? How can it adapt to the a rapidly changing climate?

How Can We Build A Sustainable City?

1. Clean Energy
Check this out next: What is Renewable Energy?
Cities use a lot of power. Today, they use almost 80% of the world's energy, most of which comes from burning . This is not sustainable in the long run as fossil fuels are not renewable - meaning they are a finite resource. Many scientists think that we will run out of fossil fuels within this century. Most importantly, they threaten the health and future of our planet by contributing to fossil fuels climate change.

To make cities sustainable, we need to power them with clean energy such as solar and wind energy. These energy sources are renewable, which means that they will never run out.

2. Green Buildings

As the urban population grows larger, cities need more homes, facilities, and work spaces to accommodate everyone. It is important that we build them in a way that reduces their impact on the environment. One way to do so is to build them with materials that are environmentally friendly. We can also design them to be more energy-efficient. Low-flow toilets, for example, can save water, while a "cool roof" that absorbs less heat can save energy by naturally keeping the building cool. Green buildings may even have their own solar panels to generate their own energy from the sun.

3. City Farming

You may have heard of rooftop farms and vertical farms - they are both examples of city or urban farming. A city may not have space for big farms, but it will likely have pockets of green spaces. City farming is the use of these spaces to grow produce and even raise small animals such as chickens. While we cannot rely on them to feed an entire city, tiny farms are a great source of food for small communities and neighbourhoods.
Do you want to challenge your friend and family to go zero waste for a week? Check out our Zero Waste Guide
4. Waste Management

Waste management is a big problem in the world today. According to experts, we dump at least globally each year. Through 2 billion tons of waste recycling, reducing and reusing, cities can prevent waste from ending up in landfills. In San Francisco, for example, recycling and composting laws have helped the city cut 80% of its waste !

Are There Any Sustainable Cities in the World Today?
Check out this next: What are Sustainable Floating Cities?
Around the world, some cities already practice sustainability. Gothenburg in Sweden, for example, is one of the most sustainable cities in the world today. To get around, you can jump on a bike, an electric scooter, or use its wide range of public transport options from electric trams to electric buses. Sustainability is also a big theme for businesses. In restaurants, chefs cook with organic ingredients that are grown using healthy farming practices. Even shopping can be sustainable, too. Local brands use organic materials to make low-impact clothing. Second-hand shops promote the longevity of clothing, furniture, and books.

Interestingly, Gothenburg was not always a green city. In the past, it was a polluted industrial town. With a vision and hard work, its government and people turned it into a leader in sustainability and its transformation now provides lessons and inspiration for cities around the world. We can learn from each other to achieve a sustainable future!

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How Can We Build A Sustainable City? A Kid-Friendly Guide - Earth.Org Kids

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With a rapidly growing global population, it has become essential to focus on smart development of urban centres. Read on to find out what a sustainable city is and how we can build them around the world.

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Gothenburg – one of the world’s most sustainable cities

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(Newsela) Building Wooden Skyscrapers 610L

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7 innovative sustainable city projects to make cities more sustainable

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SINGAPORE:  one of the most sustainable cities in the world

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(Newsela) Building Wooden Skyscrapers 760L

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(Newsela) Icy City Where Nothing Stops Cyclists 610L

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Recycling fashion: The town turning waste into clothes- BBC News

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(Newsela) Icy City Where Nothing Stops Cyclists 720L

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(Newsela) Will Cities of the Future Float? 600L

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What happens to our 2.2 billion tons of trash?

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(Newsela) Will Cities of the Future Float? 840L

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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(Newsela) Urban Heat Islands and How to Cool Them 620L

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How Rotting Vegetables Make Electricity | World Wide Waste

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(Newsela) Urban Heat Islands and How to Cool Them 770L

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All About Solar Energy – Earth's Renewable Resources