Planners Media Cell

28/01/2026

We need to develop culture for walkability being a common citizen and help government to promote Green Infrastructure SDG 2030

05/01/2026

Environmental Pollution is a real concern of today world!

06/12/2025

Beautiful presentation of how landuse changes with time and new transportation networks laid

14/11/2025

07/11/2025

06/11/2025

03/11/2025

30/10/2025

27/09/2025

Is Chongqing, China, pioneering the future of waste-free cities ?

In 2019, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment launched a bold experiment: the “Waste-Free City” initiative.

The vision? Transform urban life so that waste is no longer an inevitable by-product, but a valuable resource in a circular economy.

Among the first 16 cities chosen for this pilot was Chongqing—a megacity of over 30 million people perched on the banks of the Yangtze.

A city this vast could easily drown in its own waste. Instead, Chongqing decided to reinvent how waste is seen, sorted, and used.

♻️ Here’s how they did it:

1. Building an Integrated Waste System

Waste is no longer an afterthought. From digital tracking of garbage trucks to smart bins that guide households on how to sort their waste, every step of the process is monitored. Separate streams for food scraps, recyclables, hazardous waste, and residuals ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

2. Turning Waste into Wealth

Chongqing’s eco-industrial parks are where the magic happens. By-products from one factory fuel another. Construction debris becomes a mine for valuable materials. Partnerships with local industries power waste-to-energy plants and materials recovery facilities.

3. Engaging the People Who Make It Work

No system works without people. That’s why Chongqing invested heavily in public campaigns, incentives, and education.

Households get guidance through apps, communities rely on volunteers to spot bad disposal habits, and behavioural change is treated as seriously as infrastructure.

🛠️ Governance Behind the Scenes

At the city level, waste-free governance is treated like urban infrastructure. Multiple agencies coordinate, special funds support low-carbon innovation, and green finance tools unlock investment. It’s not just an environmental project; it’s an economic growth engine.

🌱 The Payoff?

- Less reliance on landfills.
- Significant drops in carbon emissions.
- New jobs in recycling, eco-design, and green services.

🚀 Lessons for Other Cities

Chongqing shows us that the future of waste management isn’t just about bins and trucks. It’s about data-driven governance, community participation, and treating waste policy as industrial strategy.

The result? A city that’s not only cleaner, but smarter, more resilient, and more prosperous.

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As World Habitat Day approaches - on 6 October - we reflect on the state of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.

Join the livestream, post your events or take part in one, search "World Habitat Day".

01/05/2025

Basic urban services aren’t basic. They’re the hidden engine behind public health, jobs, and climate resilience.

In rapidly urbanizing regions, the presence (or absence) of basic urban services shapes everything from public health to climate resilience and economic potential.

Yet, 1 in 4 urban residents globally lacks access to safely managed drinking water, and over 1 billion people live in informal settlements without reliable urban services​​.

Let’s unpack what these services are and why they’re critical:

🔹 They support daily life

Clean water, electricity, sanitation, and waste collection are non-negotiable for urban health and dignity. For example, poor sanitation contributes to 432,000 deaths annually worldwide due to diarrheal diseases (WHO).

🔹 They enable economic activity

Without functional transport systems, digital connectivity, and energy infrastructure, cities cannot attract investment or create jobs. Transport inefficiencies alone can cost cities 2–5% of their GDP annually (UN-Habitat).

🔹 They protect health and the environment

Urban services like drainage, air quality monitoring, and nature-based solutions can reduce disease risks and urban heat island effects. 🌿 Nature-based solutions in informal areas can improve resilience while reducing costs by up to 40% compared to grey infrastructure​.

🔹 They build resilience to climate shocks

Cities are climate frontlines. Basic services are lifelines during floods, heatwaves, and droughts. Yet, in 2022 only 20% of countries explicitly linked basic services with urban climate resilience in their NDCs.

🔹 They ensure no one is left behind

Equitable access to schools, healthcare, housing, and social services bridges gaps in opportunity. Inclusive services are not a luxury — they are the backbone of a just urban future.

🛠️ As urban professionals, it’s time to push for climate-smart, community-driven basic services that address today’s crises and tomorrow’s growth.

💬 What’s one essential service your city is investing in — or struggling to deliver?

SOURCES:
1. World Cities Report 2024 – UN-Habitat
2. Global State of National Urban Policy 2024 – UN-Habitat & OECD
3. WHO – Sanitation and Health Fact Sheets
4. The Urban Content of the NDCs: Global Review 2022 – UN-Habitat

28/04/2025

Human Priorities defined quality of services or justice for Rights