​​DON’T BRAKE THE BRIDGE “BRIDGE THE GAP”

SDG 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Don’t break the bridge, bridge the gap, to have qualities of two timeline, the past and the present.
Let’s not invent without considering past ideas and resources. If we continue with inventions and taking no consideration of the past, this might result in a destructive evolution instead of a constructive one.
So let’s bridge the gap and make it a constructive evolution.

​What is sustainable development goal 11?
Sustainable Development Goal 11 recognises the importance of cities in addressing and focusing challenges with the need to make cities and human settlement inclusive, resilient, safe and sustainable.
 
What does it means?
In a nutshell SDG 11’s associated targets cover the provision of housing and upgrading slums; access to transportation and improvements in road safety; enhancing capacities for human settlements planning and management; protection of cultural and natural heritage; reduction in the economic and human loss caused by disasters; mitigation of the adverse environmental impact of cities, particularly through waste management; and access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces.
In addition, it also highlights the importance of adopting and implementing integrated policies towards mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and support to urban resilience.
 
Why is SDG 11 important to the world?
SDG11 is important as it is the URBAN SDG that the world needs in order to make a change for urbanization.
The world is becoming increasingly urban,it will need to build new urban area for the rising population every day, to keep up and manage the growth.'
The SDG11 targets are also an important aspect to achieve the global goals in 2030:
11.1. By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade
Slums
11.2. 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
 
Why is SDG 11 important to Seychelles?
Well, Right now Seychelles is facing a developing transition, which would be advantageous for us, if  we take consideration of the global goals and its target. So as a country we can also accomplish and contribute to the SGDs global agenda by 2030.
It is also a sustainable way for us as a nation to clearly make good decision on how to master plan our land and how to preserve our heritage site and making modern structure with natural reasons we have in place and taking issue into consideration between urban and city areas on how to merge it together.

Is traffic a concern for you?
Do we ever wonder how many hours we spend in traffic getting from home to work and vice versa? Well let me tell you, it’s basically a quarter of your life time trying to cross urban to city areas on a daily basis. This has a sociological impact on our behavior as a society as it develop certain frustration and lack of patient within people while driving.

Thus, this is just one example of a thousand impact that we can face as a small society daily if we don’t consider having a sustainable city and communities, these things will keep on happening. Which is why SDG 11 is relevant to Seychelles.
On the other hand, Extreme poverty is often concentrated in urban spaces and cities.  The governments struggle to accommodate the rising population in these areas.
Making cities safe and sustainable means ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, and also upgrading slum settlements. It also involves investment in public transportation, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in a way that is inclusive.

What actions are being taken in Seychelles towards this SDG?

• Recent master planning of Mahe.
• Affordable housing estate at Perseverance Island.
• New road Constructions.
• Proposer guideline for approval of buildings in general.

What can we do?

• Provide the right incentive for the economic sector to strive.
• Provide enough land for public space that encourage social exchange and citizen interaction.
• Promote and create awareness about this SDG
• Guide your community on what to do in case of a natural disaster
• Have regular maintenance on your cars and other machine so that it emits fewer fumes.
• Have all housing estates with basic services
• Have a clear sustainable master plan and timeframe.

So, we need to make changes. The solution to achieving SDG 11 will be found in understanding the links between all of these aspects and managing their convergence. Businesses across a wide range of sectors will have a pivotal role to play in creating truly systemic approaches to the issues.
Also engaging our youth and our citizens to know better how to understand these situations and how to act upon it. Nothing comes for free, we need to engage for a better and sustainable earth. Well for sure some of us might not be directly involved with SDG 11 in our daily work and lifestyle. But, what we can do, is reflect about it, as we are part of the society, share the awareness, have an ambition, start putting it down in writing and lets ACT on it.
 
(Contributed by Raymus Laurence)