The ACU, as part of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) and funded by the UK FCDO, has announced a pilot programme to tackle one of the most pressing global challenges: sustainable urbanisation.
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), as part of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI) and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has announced a pilot programme to tackle one of the most pressing global challenges: sustainable urbanisation.
By 2050, city populations are projected to grow by 2.5 billion people, with 95% of this growth concentrated in African and Asian cities most vulnerable to climate change. Commonwealth countries alone will account for nearly half of this increase, doubling their urban population from 1 billion to 2 billion within the next 25 years. Cities already generate over 80% of global GDP, making their resilience critical for economic growth, social inclusion, and climate action. Yet rapid urbanisation and escalating climate impacts are outpacing the capacity of governments and institutions to respond.
Against this backdrop, the ACU, the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP), Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), working alongside The King’s Foundation and the Government of Rwanda, established the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI). Since 2020, CSCI has worked to strengthen policy focus and multi-level governance, to advance the Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation tabled by the Government of Rwanda in Kigali and endorsed by Commonwealth Heads of Government at CHOGM 2022.
Building on this foundation, the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition (CSCC) has been launched as a pilot programme to advance the Declaration and deepen collaboration among CSCI partners. Funded by FCDO and managed by ACU, CSCC will promote learning and knowledge exchange among governments, policymakers, professionals, and practitioners working on sustainable urban development, while supporting capacity building and practical action at national and sub-national levels.
As part of this initiative, CSCC will convene three transdisciplinary Action Groups focused on Housing, Urban Finance, and Integrated Planning. These groups will bring together a diverse range of stakeholders – including member states, planners, engineers, architects, policymakers, subject experts, development finance practitioners, and community representatives – from across the Commonwealth to better understand the needs of member states as they work to address the challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate change in an inclusive and sustainable way; drawing on lessons from across the Commonwealth and highlighting shared policy priorities to support and strengthen implementation.
To complement these efforts, ACU has established a Sustainable Urbanisation Expert Group comprising representatives from ACU member universities. This group will explore the cross-cutting issue of skills development in the three thematic areas, with activities centred on the role of higher education in teaching and practitioner training for the built environment.
Professor Colin Riordan, ACU Secretary General and Chief Executive, said:
‘Higher education plays an essential role in supporting the development of sustainable cities across the Commonwealth. We are proud to coordinate the implementation of the CSCC programme, building on our track record in managing multi-lateral initiatives and harnessing the expertise of our members. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with CSCI partners, with the support of FCDO.’
Liz Patterson, Head of Development Finance, Infrastructure & Partnerships Department, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, added:
‘We will not achieve our net zero ambitions without tackling rapid, unplanned urbanisation. That’s why the FCDO is committed to working with partners to shape cities that are sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. This Coalition will enable countries to identify and accelerate practical solutions in critical sectors, while strengthening collaboration between the national and sub-national. We look forward to working with the Association of Commonwealth Universities and CSCI partners to advance meaningful progress across the Commonwealth.’
