More Sustainable Cities for Youth

Cities are places of opportunity, innovation, and creativity, but also of environmental, social, and economic challenges. They are the engine of the world's economic, social, and cultural development, but they are also mainly responsible for pollution, resource consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is essential for cities to become more sustainable, capable of guaranteeing the well-being of people and the environment without compromising the future generations.

What can young people concretely do to make cities more sustainable? We asked Simone Grava, 26, who is involved in the digital civil service with the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Assifero.

Despite having only been involved for a few weeks in the activities of the European Project 2030 Youth Vision, coordinated in Italy by the Project Manager Annaleda Mazzucato, Simone accepted the challenge of measuring himself with Objective 11 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the global action that proposes to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. How can we make urban areas more inclusive, safer, more resilient, and more efficient?

Here are some concrete examples identified by Simone: 

• Participate in clean-up and environmental awareness initiatives in your community.
• Use social media to share information on sustainability, raising awareness amongst friends and your network.
• Reduce energy and water consumption in your homes by turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use and installing water saving devices.
• Use public transport, or cycle or walk to get around, reducing the use of private cars and CO2 emissions.
• Recycle waste, separating it correctly, and reduce the consumption of single-use plastic, which pollutes the seas and ecosystems.
• Participate in the social and political life of your city, expressing your ideas and needs, and collaborating with institutions and civic organizations to promote social and environmental innovation projects.
• Support your city's cultural and creative activities, enhancing diversity and social cohesion, and encouraging the spread of a culture of sustainability.

“These are just some of the possible concrete actions that young people can undertake to make cities more sustainable. Although small, they can have a significant impact when adopted collectively. Individual awareness and action are key to building a more sustainable and equitable future. Each of us has the power to make a difference with our daily choices, thereby contributing to achieving the Agenda 2030 and building a better future for all,” concludes Simone.