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CATALYZING SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Urban areas are growing at an unprecedented rate, with over half of the world's population of nearly 4 billion people now residing in cities. Rapid urbanization provides opportunities, yet challenges come in tandem. How cities respond to this fast-paced growth will have a long-lasting impact on the global environment.

The Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) is a partnership and knowledge platform that promotes integrated solutions and cutting-edge support for cities seeking to improve their urban sustainability. 

Read Catalyzing Solutions for Sustainable Cities document to learn more about GPSC's work areas.

 

Read Catalyzing Solutions for Sustainable Cities  

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the platform currently comprises of 28 cities across 11 countries. The GPSC works with practitioners and thought leaders from around the world to develop solutions for sustainable urban growth. Together, our partner cities can advance towards their visions and goals of being cities that are competitive, inclusive, and resilient.

The platform's initiaties can be explained through its three pillars in support of urban sustainability. As shown in the diagram, three vertical pillars intersect three primary cross-cutting activities. 

 

GPSC’s Knowledge Pillars and Engagement

SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS

GPSC developed the Urban Sustainability Framework (USF) 4-Stage Approach and Indicator Measuring Framework to help cities understand their urban sustainability status, define their vision, and formulate and implement an action plan. The USF encourages cities to assess their urban sustainability and compare themselves with their peers. GPSC has initiated a benchmarking process using the six dimensions of the USF with a goal to understand where each of the 28 cities currently stands in terms of sustainability. GPSC emphasizes the importance of informing strategic planning processes with robust data and provides guidance to cities on how to improve data collection and management.

INTEGRATED URBAN PLANNING

Integrated urban planning and management, GPSC's second pillar is a strategic process that allows cities to shape a vision incorporating a multiplicity of mutually reinforcing actions and policies. Opportunities and interventions should promote a holistic, interconnected approach to city functions and consider the city as a system of systems. Transit-oriented development (TOD) is a good example of an integrated approach that brings together the consideration of land use, urban mobility, optimization of job opportunities, and environmental benefits.

MUNICIPAL FINANCE

GPSC's third pillar emphasizes the importance of cities' fiscal sustainability and builds upon the platform's focus on linking technical assistance to financing. To promote a fiscally enabling environment through its municipal finance pillar, GPSC helps cities assess their fiscal sustainability and creditworthiness, develop revenue improvement strategies and climate-smart capital investment plans, identify market-based options to finance infrastructure investment plans, and harness private sector investment for project financing and scaling.

ENGAGEMENT

GPSC focuses on connecting stakeholders to promote an integrated approach to urban sustainability that fosters collaboration. GPSC is a knowledge repository for integrated urban planning that shares both best practices and lessons learned. It fosters learning through its website, through global, regional, and working group meetings, and by bringing together experts and shareholders to share ideas.

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This map was produced by the Map Design Unit of The World Bank. The boundaries, colors, denominations and any other information shown on this map do not imply, on the part of The World Bank Group, any judgment on the legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.

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