In 2018, 55% of the global population was in urban areas, a figure projected to increase to 68% or 2.5 billion more people by 2050. Asia and Africa play a big role in these numbers, with approximately 90% of the growth occurring in these regions. As part of Asia, the Philippines accounts for 54% of the world's population[1]. Urbanization in the Philippines is accelerating, and managing this growth efficiently is essential to mitigating its impacts.
Manila ranked 93rd overall in the 2024 Sustainable Cities Index (SCI). While humbling, this sustainability ranking presents an opportunity to reflect and learn from past efforts, or lack thereof.
The path to improving sustainability in the Philippines begins with asking, "Why are we here?” By understanding Manila's recent challenges in developing meaningful and sustainable advancements, we can begin to answer, “How can we get there?"
Manila's challenges by the pillars
Every country relies on the national economy to drive opportunities for growth, but for a developing country like the Philippines, this dependence is doubly crucial. Manila’s challenges may be linked to urbanization, which influences economic factors like educational attainment, cost of living, and poverty incidence, among others.
Learning from top sustainable cities
Manila’s struggle to excel in the Progress pillar and the core SCI index places it among the cities lacking momentum. To rise to the challenge, we can look to high-performing, sustainable cities in the Philippines and globally for inspiration.
Amsterdam’s top position and sustained momentum emanate from its three transition routes toward a sustainable city: energy, green, and circular. With rising global temperatures in a city with an already high temperature, considering these transition routes is imperative. Similarly, Seoul manages to remain sustainable through urban planning and technology, making citizen welfare a priority through accessibility.
Despite having low core SCI rankings, Manila can learn from cities with early momentum, especially Asian countries that manage to progress even at the height of urbanization. Jakarta’s proactive urban disaster management strategies through building reservoirs and creating programs that improve water flow offer insightful parallels to Manila’s susceptibility to flooding. Then there is the Green Bangkok 2030 Project’s mission: to expand green spaces to 10 square meters per person, an ideal benchmark for improving environmental quality and social well-being. This is an exemplary model for Manila, where a growing population and expanding infrastructure have led to the gradual loss of available green space.
Harnessing determination for sustainable improvement
While collective action creates real impact, addressing some climate emergency angles goes beyond individual efforts and necessitates systemic and national policy changes. Arcadis has been building on a sustainable future in key cities around the world. However, for innovations like these to materialize in the Philippines, investing in sustainable urban planning, infrastructure, and support from the government is key.
With underlying challenges to address, the built environment plays a pivotal role in sustainability in the Philippines. As these issues persist alongside the climate crisis, it’s important to highlight integrated approaches that address both short- and long-term needs. This will help persuade policymakers to enable sustainable development within the built environment, fostering a resilient and equitable future for all.
Source:
[1] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). 68% of the world population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, says UN | United Nations. https://www.un.org/uk/desa/68-world-population-projected-live-urban-areas-2050-says-un
[2] Philippine Business for Education Inc. (2023). State of Philippine Education Report 2023.
PBEd. https://pbed.ph/blogs/47/PBEd/State%20of%20Philippine%20Education%20Report%202023
[3] Mapa, C. (2024, August 15). 11 out of 18 Regions Recorded Significant Decreases in Poverty Incidence in 2023. Philippine Statistics Authority. https://psa.gov.ph/statistics/poverty
[4] Philippine Institute for Development Studies. (2024, Jan 17.).
https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/news/in-the-news/2023-rate-hikes-impact-will-still-be-felt-pids
Kang, L. (2014, January 1). South Korea's Sustainable Urban Planning and Environmental Technology. Inquiries Journal.
http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/844/south-koreas-sustainable-urban-planning-and-environmental-technology
Nurlambang, T. (2022, October 18). Sustainable development in the face of floods and rising sea levels: Jakarta case study. SDG Action.
https://sdg-action.org/sustainable-development-in-the-face-of-floods-and-rising-sea-levels-jakarta-case-study%EF%BF%BC/
