A Faculty Member from the College of Education for Pure Sciences Publishes a Research Paper on “Sustainable Cities as an Approach to a Safe and Inclusive Urban Future.”
Dr. Talib Hashim Matloub, a lecturer in the Department of Biology, published a research paper on “Sustainable Cities as an Approach to a Safe and Inclusive Urban Future.”
In his paper, he explained that with rapid urbanization and increasing pressure on infrastructure, equitable access to urban services has become a fundamental criterion for cities to achieve sustainability. Ensuring that all residents benefit from decent housing, safe transportation, and basic services is a crucial step towards building more inclusive and equitable cities, especially for the most vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The eleventh Sustainable Development Goal provides a practical framework for rebuilding cities in a way that makes them safer, more resilient, and more sustainable. Rapid urban growth, which in many countries has not been matched by similar development in housing, infrastructure, transportation networks, and public services, has contributed to the expansion of slums and exacerbated problems of pollution, urban sprawl, and a shortage of public spaces.
Global experiences such as those in Copenhagen and Singapore offer practical models for sustainable cities, where investment in public transport, bicycle infrastructure, and smart water management has contributed to reducing emissions and improving quality of life. Community engagement initiatives in cities like Buenos Aires have also demonstrated the importance of involving residents in neighborhood planning to reduce inequality and promote social cohesion.
Urban sustainability is not limited to the environmental aspect alone; it extends to protecting cultural heritage and mitigating losses from disasters, particularly those related to climate change, through effective risk management policies and enhancing urban resilience. Expanding green spaces, improving air quality, and developing sustainable public transport systems are among the most practical tools for achieving this.
