EDITORIAL - Sustainable cities

Residents of Metro Manila don’t need surveys to tell them that the quality of life in the nation’s capital can use much improvement. But seeing the nation’s mega city ranked among the worst in the Asia-Pacific in terms of sustainability might speed up reforms.

In the 2016 Sustainable Cities Index, consultancy firm Arcadis ranked Manila a dismal 96th among 100 Asian urban centers in the region, ahead only of Indian cities New Delhi, which ranked 97th, and Kolkata, which took the worst place at 100.

Sustainability was assessed based on 32 indicators under three pillars: people, planet and profit, which included quality of life, environmental factors and economic health. Data provided by the UK-based Center for Economic and Business Research was used by Arcadis for the index. 

In the global rankings, Swiss city Zurich was ranked the most sustainable, followed by Singapore, Stockholm, Vienna, London, Frankfurt, Seoul, Hamburg, Prague and Munich. Within the Asia-Pacific, South Korean capital Seoul followed Singapore, ranking seventh. Hong Kong placed 16th; gambling haven Macau was 41st; Tokyo 45th and Taipei 48th. Chinese cities, suffering from pollution and urban blight, also ranked low, but still ahead of Manila: Beijing placed 73rd; Shanghai, 74th; Guangzhou, 78th; Tianjin, 85th; Chengdu, 93rd and Wuhan, 94th.

In Southeast Asia, Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur was far ahead at 55th place, followed by Thai capital Bangkok at 67th and Vietnamese capital Hanoi at 87th. Even Indonesian capital Jakarta, with its horrid traffic rivaling the situation in Manila, ranked 88th.

All these Asian cities suffer from urban blight, including congestion, pollution and heavy traffic. But the rankings indicate that those cities are seen to be doing more to deal with the problems of sustainability. 

Developing sustainable, smart cities can be easier by learning from the experience of others. Governments in several countries whose cities have consistently ranked high in sustainability rankings have expressed readiness to share their experience with others especially in developing countries. This will minimize the waste of time, effort and resources from trying to reinvent the wheel and making mistakes.

Sustainability is not only good for city residents but also lures tourists and investments. With political will, Manila need not be left behind by its Asian neighbors.