Architects use comics and humour to rethink sustainable cities [Interview] – Mongabay-India

Report on Urban Design Advocacy and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Leewardists’ Role in Urban Discourse

• Architects Anuj Kale and Shreya Khandekar, through their platforms Leewardists and Urbanist Comix, utilize storytelling and satire to advocate for sustainable urban development.
• Their work primarily focuses on making complex urban issues accessible to the public, fostering dialogue on creating cities that are equitable, resilient, and environmentally conscious.
• This approach directly aligns with the objectives of the United Nations’ SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, which aims to make human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Critique of Conventional Urban Planning and Governance

Misalignment with Sustainable Development Principles

1. The comic strip Politicians as Urban Designers satirizes the prevalent issue of political decision-making in urban design, where superficial aesthetics are imported from other countries without considering local context or needs.
2. This top-down approach, lacking expert consultation and public participation, undermines the principles of SDG 11.3, which calls for inclusive and sustainable urbanization through participatory planning.
3. The focus on car-centric infrastructure and cosmetic elements over people-centric systems represents a significant barrier to achieving genuinely sustainable urban environments.

Advancing Sustainable Urban Ecosystems

Redefining Urban Green Spaces for SDG 11.7 and SDG 15

1. The report highlights a need to expand the definition of green spaces beyond conventional parks to include informal and functional ecological assets such as road edges, wetlands, courtyards, and large tree canopies.
2. This perspective supports SDG 15: Life on Land by recognizing individual trees and small green patches as vital urban ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity and urban resilience.
3. Advocacy for collectively owned, accessible, and “wild” green spaces directly addresses SDG 11.7, which aims to provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces for all.

Human-Centric and Ecosystem-Based Design

• A core recommendation is the design of cities that function as integrated ecosystems, where natural elements like wind flow and permeable surfaces are prioritized over concrete and glass.
• This philosophy promotes urban resilience and contributes to climate mitigation, aligning with SDG 13: Climate Action.
• The vision is for cities where informal economies, small open spaces, and natural systems coexist, creating a more sustainable and livable environment for all residents.

Promoting Equitable and Sustainable Urban Mobility

Addressing Inequities in Transportation (SDG 10 & SDG 5)

1. Urban mobility systems are reported as being inherently inequitable, failing to account for the diverse experiences of women, children, persons with disabilities, and transgender individuals. This disparity is a direct challenge to achieving SDG 5: Gender Equality and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
2. Current planning often caters to a car-owning minority, neglecting the needs of pedestrians, street vendors, and other vulnerable road users.
3. Achieving true efficiency in urban mobility requires an foundational focus on equity and accessibility for all members of the community.

Strategies for Sustainable Transport Systems (SDG 11.2 & SDG 13)

• To reduce emissions and encourage sustainable travel, cities must influence behavior by improving the user experience of public and non-motorized transport.
• Policy recommendations include subsidizing public transport, creating shaded sidewalks, and ensuring reliable first- and last-mile connectivity.
• These measures are critical for fulfilling SDG 11.2, which targets the provision of safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, while also contributing to the climate goals of SDG 13.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several issues related to urban planning, sustainability, and social equity that connect to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This is the most central SDG, as the entire article focuses on making cities more livable, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. It critiques car-centric planning and advocates for people-centric design, green spaces, and efficient public mobility.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article emphasizes the need for equity and access in urban design. It highlights that cities are experienced differently by various groups and calls for planning that considers the needs of pedestrians, street vendors, people with disabilities, women, and children, thereby aiming to reduce urban inequalities.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The discussion on influencing travel behavior to “reduce emissions effectively” and designing cities that “breathe” with more trees and fewer concrete surfaces directly relates to climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies within urban environments.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article’s strong focus on green spaces, protecting trees from being cut for development, and viewing them as “ecosystems of their own” connects to the goal of protecting terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss within urban contexts.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: By explicitly mentioning that “A woman, a child, a transperson or a person with a disability navigates the same city very differently,” the article touches upon the need for urban planning that ensures safety and accessibility for all genders, which is a key component of gender equality.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all.
   • Explanation: The article directly addresses this by critiquing car-centric planning and advocating for mobility that is “equitable and accessible to all residents.” It suggests solutions like “subsidised public transport, shaded sidewalks, reliable first and last-mile connections” and designing from the perspective of pedestrians and vulnerable groups.
2. Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning.
   • Explanation: The critique of “Politicians as Urban Designers” who lack understanding of urban systems points to a need for more informed and participatory planning. The article champions urban systems “built around people’s real needs,” which aligns with inclusive and sustainable urbanization.
3. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.
   • Explanation: The article extensively discusses green spaces, arguing they are more than just parks and should be accessible to all. It calls for rethinking “ownership and access” and valuing informal green spaces like the canopy of a banyan tree, which serves as a public space for a vendor.
4. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of disability, or other status.
   • Explanation: The call to “imagine cities from the point of view of a pedestrian, a street vendor, people with disabilities or a parent pushing a stroller” is a direct appeal for social inclusion in urban planning, ensuring the city serves everyone, not just a car-owning minority.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several practical metrics that could be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Sustainable Transport (Target 11.2): The article implies measuring the modal share of transportation, specifically the shift in behavior from private cars to public transport and walking. Progress could be tracked by the percentage of the population using public transport and the mileage of safe, shaded sidewalks available.
• Indicator for Green Spaces (Target 11.7): A key implied indicator is the preservation of the urban tree canopy. The article notes that “so many trees getting cut over the last few years,” suggesting that tracking the number of trees preserved versus removed for development would be a measure of success. Another indicator is the proportion of publicly accessible and collectively owned green spaces versus “manicured, fenced parks.”
• Indicator for Inclusive Planning (Targets 11.3 & 10.2): Progress could be measured by the level of public participation in urban planning decisions. The article critiques top-down decisions by politicians, implying that a successful city would have mechanisms to incorporate the needs and experiences of diverse residents, including vulnerable populations, into its design process.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: india.mongabay.com