International online short course about "Sustainable Cities" started August 29^th 

The future of our planet and its people rests significantly on cities. Today, 55% of the global population lives in urban areas, and this share is projected to rise to 68% by 2050. Cities are at the heart of the climate agenda as they are generating 70% of global greenhouse gases. Due to their high concentration of people, infrastructures, housing and economic activities, cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters. Therefore, building urban resilience is crucial to avoid human, social and economic losses while improving the sustainability of urbanization processes to protect the environment and mitigate disaster risk and climate change.

The ecological footprint of cities as an indicator of sustainability continues to grow and demands urgent rethinking of current urban development practices. This decade, we must transform how cities operate to drive global efforts on sustainable development, climate action, and recovery from COVID-19.

This course offers a unique opportunity to explore how cities can be planned and managed, in order to fulfil their role as drivers of sustainable development, and how they can shape the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

This 85^th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUV International Short Course - Sustainable Cities is designed and conducted by the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM).