Module 2 — Concepts of Sustainable Cities and Communities

MODULE OVERVIEW

This module provides concepts of sustainable cities and communities through the lens of sustainable development focusing specifically on climate change. An introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals, and the dedicated goal for cities sets the background for contrasting definitions for sustainable vs. unsustainable cities, where cities are then analyzed with respect to climate change and trends towards green growth.  You will also find examples of sustainable and unsustainable city infrastructure globally, from Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Seattle and Sydney; and from Accra, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg and Nairobi, in Africa specifically. By the end of this module, you will be able to interpret the challenges with rapid urbanization and implications for sustainability in cities around the world, and the challenges and opportunities in African cities.

Topics:

  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • Sustainable vs. Unsustainable cities
  • Climate change in cities

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Overall: Interpret the challenges with rapid urbanization and the implications for sustainability

  1. Recognize the sustainable development goal targets for sustainable cities and communities
  2. Describe the impacts of urbanization on global cities
  3. Evaluate cities’ contribution to climate change and the opportunities for climate change mitigation

EXPLORE MODULE

Welcome to Module 2

Learning Outcomes

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable vs. Unsustainable City

Climate Change in Cities

Towards Green Growth

Examples from Global Cities

Examples from African Cities

Module 2 Summary

QUIZ: Module 2

DISCUSSION POINT: Module 2

References


PROJECT FILES

Type: Assessments (DOCX)

Module 2 Assessment Answer Key

Type: Video Links (YouTube)

Welcome to Module 2

Sustainable Development Goals

Towards Green Growth

Climate Change in Cities

Sustainable vs. Unsustainable City

PROJECT INFORMATION

Sustainable Cities: Adding an African Perspective

PROJECT COMPONENTS

These course materials were created as part of the deliverables of the Engineering Education for Sustainable Development in Africa (EESC-A) at the University of Toronto, which was funded by the Dean’s Strategic Fund, Connaught Global Challenge Award, and the Learning and Education Advancement Fund (LEAF).

This effort has come to fruition with the support of the following individuals at the University of Toronto: Murray Metcalfe (Project Director), Brent Sleep (PI Connaught), Greg Evans (LEAF Co-PI), in addition to Dan Hoornweg, Lulu Luo and Rahim Rezaie on the EESC-A leadership team, the online magicians Allison van Beek and Joanna Lau in the Education Technology Office, and Laurie Harrison at the Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation, and the amazing librarians, Mindy Thuna and Katherine Johnson at the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering Library.

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