UN ENVIRONMENT ASSEMBLY

SDG #11 & SDG #12:

Sustainable Cities and Responsible Consumption and Production

The effects of rising populations, mass pollution, and damaged ecosystems affect people across the world without regard for borders or individual country politics. As an international organization, the United Nations aims to find solutions to such large scale issues through its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Over 3.5 billion people — half the world’s population — live in urban settings. With rising populations and urbanization, this number is set to increase at unprecedented rates: in the coming decades, over 95% of urban expansion will occur in the developing world. Within these growing urban environments, urbanites face the growing crisis of air pollution, access to fresh water, and damage to their living environments. Now more than ever, the UN must progress towards SDG #11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG #12, Responsible Consumption and Production.

In a world defined by mass consumption, growing global economies, and consumerism, we have forgotten about the detrimental environmental effects that come with such expansion. Many estimates believe our population will reach 9.6 million by 2050; a population this size would require three Earths to have enough natural resources to meet our basic needs. We must now look to the future and promote a world with reusable energy, reducing excess consumption, and preserving our natural resources.

Room Assignment: ———

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