Sustainable Communities for Learning City Transformation & Inclusion

Join us online for this hybrid panel discussion on climate change - its impact on growth, human rights, inequality and ecology, and the transformations that come with mitigation and abatement.

Chair: Catherine Lido, Professor of Psychology & Adult Learning, University of Glasgow; Deputy Director Pascal-Europe

Panel:

• Chris Shepherd, John Tibbitt, University of Glasgow - Cities and the delivery of SDGs: tackling the policy disconnect
• Henry Ssali, University of Toronto - Combating Food Insecurity on University Campuses in Canada.
• Diego Pajarito Grajales, University of Glasgow - Community-led data co-production, our approach to urban sustainability

This panel is being organised by the Urban Big Data Centre and Pascal (as contribution to the 17th Pascal Conference in Taiwan).

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‍Abstracts

Cities and the delivery of SDGs: tackling the policy disconnect

Chris Shepherd, John Tibbitt, University of Glasgow

Whilst international bodies such as the OECD and national governments have developed frameworks for the delivery of the 17 SDGs by 2030, in most countries it is local government which has the competences to implement appropriate policies at city and regional level. Our concern in this paper is to explore from a policy perspective, the tensions which arise as local government attempts to formulate and deliver policies for sustainable development in their localities.

Our focus is mainly on SDG 11, but inevitably this will also touch on other relevant SDGs. Our analysis is mainly drawn from the UK, but will also highlight examples from Europe and elsewhere. Driven by the need to respond to the challenges of climate change and net zero, cities are adopting a variety of approaches spanning building efficiency, better traffic management, improved public transport and active travel and environmental improvements such as increased green space. Ultimately, whatever the impact of these policies on carbon emissions, they all have the potential to profoundly influence the economic prospects, quality of life and liveability in city communities and neighbourhoods.

These efforts to deliver SDG 11 are potentially socially disruptive, and some UK cities have already experienced determined resistance to some of the measures being pursued. Such measures can threaten place attachment and identity, and social cohesion. Our contention here is first, that urban planners are not typically giving sufficient attention to the social and psychological dimensions of policy, and second that they are producing a policy disconnect between the objectives of particular SDG policies and the wider goal of creating what people perceive to be better places to lead their lives.

We will demonstrate these arguments with examples of SDG-relevant initiatives taken forward in UK cities and elsewhere. In our final section we offer a commentary on the culture change which is necessary to reconcile pressures on urban development in coming years and to close the policy disconnect we have outlined above. Drawing on examples of successful practice, it is clear that some cities have had success in fostering a change culture. We offer some ideas on how culture change can be achieved, which will include community education, creative data collection and vital community communication strategies which address the perceived threats to lived experience in cities and neighbourhood communities.

Combating Food Insecurity on University Campuses in Canada

Henry Ssali, University of Toronto

Food insecurity is a weird problem. Conversations regarding food insecurity on university campuses in Canada have been a subject of discussion for years. This presentation provides a comprehensive roadmap for student governments aiming to play a more significant role in ensuring food security on university campuses across Canada. It outlines the multifaceted approach student governments can adopt, involving advocacy, student consultations, and collaboration with university administrations and external partners. The presentation begins by examining the current state of food insecurity among university students, highlighting the urgent need for action and the pivotal role student governments can play in addressing this issue.

Through a detailed analysis of successful case studies, the presentation offers practical strategies for student governments to enhance food security. These include establishing and supporting on-campus food banks and meal programs, negotiating with food service providers to improve the affordability and nutritional value of diverse-food options, and lobbying for policies that address the broader economic challenges faced by students. Importantly, the presentation emphasizes the value of student consultations in understanding the diverse needs and preferences within the student body, ensuring that initiatives are inclusive and effective.

Furthermore, the presentation discusses how student governments can leverage their unique position to foster a culture of sustainability and social responsibility on campus, contributing to long-term solutions for food insecurity. It provides guidance on building partnerships with local organizations, securing funding, and engaging the student population in food security initiatives.

By offering a step-by-step guide, this presentation empowers student governments with the knowledge and tools necessary to make a tangible difference in the lives of students. It not only addresses immediate needs but also contributes to the development of a sustainable and equitable food system on university campuses. Through advocacy, innovation, and collaboration, student governments can lead the way in transforming food security for students across Canada.

Community-led data co-production, our approach to urban sustainability

Diego Pajarito Grajales, University of Glasgow

To place vulnerable communities at the centre of urban sustainability, our team integrates participatory approaches (i.e., participatory action research) and cutting-edge data management technologies. This presentation will reflect on our two recent research projects that adopted such an approach.

The first one is the “Integrated Deprived Area Mapping System (IDEAMAPS)” Network, which aims to generate citywide surface maps of deprived areas while supporting stakeholders’ capacity to advocate improved living conditions. The team combines artificial intelligence (AI) and participatory action research sessions (PAR) to routinely co-produce data about urban deprivation with local stakeholders. Conversely, our approach ensures appropriation by community and local government stakeholders to seek equity and justice for all.

The second one is the “Waterproofing Data” project, where we investigated how to transform the usual data flows to inform scientific "centres of expertise" and then flood-related alerts and interventions back down from the grassroots to the local governments and other relevant stakeholders. With the recent expansion across Brazil and Colombia, our team empowers local partners to integrate the community-led strategy in their territorial interventions.

Dr Diego Pajarito Grajales is a research associate at the Urban Big Data Centre, University of Glasgow, and investigates the role of information technologies in fostering equitable and just relationships with vulnerable communities when co-create data. His work merges automated data management, geospatial analysis and community engagement. He is part of the IDEAMAPS Data Ecosystem and leads the expansion of the Waterproofing Data project across Latin America.

He holds a PhD in Geoinformatics obtained as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow within a joint European program between the University of Münster (Germany), Universitat Jaume I (Spain) and Universidade Nova (Portugal).

In 2023, He was invited to join the Innovation Friendly Regulations Advisory Group at the European Commission. He has worked as a research fellow at the University of Warwick, as a researcher and data scientist for the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, and at Universitat Jaume I. He has also supported the adoption of the Integrated Geospatial Framework (IGIF) as a consultant for the World Bank and the Government of Colombia as part of his consultant career.

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