THEME: SUSTAINABLE LIVING IN A BIG CITY
The theme “Sustainable Living In a Big City” encourages all international delegations to choose topics that lead to environmental and ecological projects that enhance the communities in the participants’ lives. Each delegation should choose a complex issue, problem or challenge in their immediate surroundings that requires "Research and Academic Study". The projects should be carried out in the surrounding environment, where students can complete their project activities with guidance from their teachers.The projects should cover the relationship and impact of a sustainable big city and the rural region surrounding it. It is important that delegates choose a project topic that they are individually affected by. Students should then find their own solutions to the problems and get to action.
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Delegations also need to develop at least one partnership with an organisation or community partner to learn more about the project and/or to help to develop a sustainable implementation of their project in their local community.
Each project must be related to at least one of the below targets of 11.th Sustainable Developement Goal of United Nations (Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable) doing so will increase project efficiency.
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Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and much more. At their best, cities have enabled people to advance socially and economically. With the number of people living within cities projected to rise to 5 billion people by 2030, it’s important that efficient urban planning and management practices are in place to deal with the challenges brought by urbanization.
Targets:
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By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
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By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
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By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
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Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
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By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
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By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
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By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities
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Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
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By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
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Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials​
Together, participants and organizations must collaboratively engage in an activity that enhances their local community.
NOTE: Begin collaborating with potential partners right away. Doing so will increase project efficiency.
