Indigenous 

Peoples’ Rights and Violence

Poverty, inequality and violence against indigenous peoples

There are approximately 140 indigenous ethno-linguistic groups
in the Philippines, constituting between 15 and 20 per cent of the Filipino population.
Indigenous peoples are frequently located in isolated and inaccessible
areas that are, however, rich in natural resources. One of the principal
challenges faced by indigenous peoples is represented by so called ‘development
aggression’ and commercial activities, since activities such as mining and logging
affect their lands and ancestral homes.
Indigenous peoples are among the most marginalised groups in the Philippines, and are
often victims of various forms of abuse, violence and
exploitation. 12 Furthermore, due to their poor living conditions and social exclusion, indigenous
children are at risk of becoming involved in armed conflict and being recruited into armed
groups. Armed conflict also renders indigenous women and girls more vulnerable to physical
and sexual abuse. 
While, on paper, indigenous peoples’ rights are protected and guaranteed by the 1997 
Philippines’ Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA)  based on the provisions of the draft
of what is now the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples' Rights in concrete terms the
provisions of this Act are systematically undermined by other laws, inter alia, the 1995 
Mining Code. In many cases this Code provides for mining permits on indigenous lands which
are, in theory, protected under the IPRA. 
The tensions generated by the conflict between indigenous and commercial interests have
frequently led to protest actions on the part of indigenous organizations, resulting
in turn in social conflict. Often, indigenous activists are prosecuted, harassed, detained
and imprisoned for their efforts to protect the economic, social and
cultural rights of their communities. 
OMCT is particularly concerned that, on many occasions, peaceful opposition by local
communities and indigenous peoples to mining operations that violate their economic, social and
cultural rights and endanger their way of life has been met with violence. In this respect, OMCT
deplores the fact that, on 3 October 2007, during a protest against mining activities in
Sibuyan Island, Armin Marin, an indigenous activists, was killed by a gunshot.  OMCT points
out that poorly regulated mining projects, ostensibly aimed at increasing
employment and improving living conditions of the population, do not represent a
sustainable development alternative. OMCT recalls that mining activities can have a
negative socioeconomic impact on the populations affected by these
projects, including water deprivation and pollution, health threats, forced displacement and
threats to livelihood. 
 Specifically, with respect to the situation of indigenous communities, OMCT express
two key concerns:
 Wide spread poverty among Filipino indigenous peoples is related to
the issue of land use and to the unequal allocation of benefits deriving from
the economic development process. Social and
political tensions in rural areas have led, and will continue to lead to violent civil
conflict in various parts of the country. 
  In the light of the liberalization policy undertaken by the Government of the Philippines,
the interests of private companies and
corporations that have occupied indigenous peoples’ lands are better protected
by the Government than indigenous land rights.
The  case of the impact of the Canatuan Mine on the Subanon Community, Island of Mindanao
The Subanon tribe has been displaced over several decades, driven by an increasing
number of government development projects. Over the years, the resistance of the
Subanon to this treatment has led to serious conflict, violence and human rights violations
involving the Filipino Army. 
TVI Pacific Inc. is a Canadian mining company which was
granted mining rights in Sitio Canatuan. The TVI Pacific project is based on an agreement
between the company and the Government of the Philippines. The operations involve the
exploitation of an area historically occupied by the Subanon people, and in particular of a
mountain considered sacred by this community. The company’s operations have
reportedly been the cause of a number of violations:  
Militarization of and acts of violence on the ancestral land by the company’s
security guards, establishment of checkpoints, etc.   
Changes in water quality reported by farmers and fishermen in the area surrounding the
mine. Communities living on the coastline complain of high levels of sediments and the
bitter taste of the water. By 2007, TVI Pacific had taken no steps to provide a
water treatment plant.   
Forced evictions took place in 2003 when TVI Pacific was
granted permission by the Philippines Government to forcibly demolish the facilities of small -
scale miners and remove those miners from the area. On 22 May 2006, a miner’s family was
forcibly removed and their homes destroyed by security forces. Bulldozers were also used to
destroy gardens in which miners grew food.
The State Report on indigenous issues
§ 444: Liberating the Indigenous People from Indignity 
A capability building program which is designed to uplift the self-worth of indigenous
peoples.  Exercise cultural awareness in them and strengthen their positive indigenous
values, system and practices. The project is currently being pilot-
tested in Lamitan, Basilan, and Zamboanga City. 
§ 594: Agrarian Reform Community Development Strategy 
A focused, gender sensitive approach intended to empower, and
build the social capital of underrepresented and marginal groups (such as
small farmers, farmworkers, agricultural lessees,  subsistence fisher folk, indigenous people and
rural women) in rural communities; 
§1008: S&T Intervention Program for the Poor, Vulnerable and Disabled. 
The program aims to the provide the poor and the disadvantaged sectors of the
civil society  access to DOST generated/sourced technologies and science based approaches
to resource management to meet the minimum basic needs and to facilitate technology based
livelihood opportunities through the efficient and effective
delivery of S&T services. Through the Program, the
marginalized coastal and upland communities, indigenous communities, displaced communities, 
persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups will be
provided technotransfer training, technical assistance, higher skill/knowledge acquisition, equip
ment grant and/or prototyping, and linkages for
resource generation, including marketing and financing, integrated 
with value orientation to provide a holistic approach to development. 
§1009: S&T for Mindanao. 
The program aims to build up the Mindanao region's technological capability
in order to boost its longterm attractiveness to investors. It has generated the support and collabo
ration of various line agencies, and the local governments including some cultural
minorities from Mindanao. The Program has two major components: 1)
Technology Program for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises; and b) Mindanao
S&T Human Resources Development Program. To optimize the use of
limited government resources, the Program will focus on four priority sectors, namely: 1) food
industry; 2) marine; 3) horticulture; and 4) furniture.

Poverty and Violence against Children

Street children, juvenile  justice and violence

In all cases, poor, disadvantaged and marginalized
children are more vulnerable to violence than their peers who enjoy the elements
of an adequate protective environment.  Similarly, poor and marginalized children are more
likely to come into conflict with the law. Poverty and family or community breakdown can force
them from their homes and lead them to live on the street children. In some
cases, they become involved in vagrancy, petty crime and
substance abuse. 30 In the Philippines these children are often apprehended without
warrant and detained without access to social workers for long periods. They are
also vulnerable to torture and ill-treatment. 
The fact that the majority of detained children are from the most
marginalized and disadvantaged sectors of society means they do not
have the economic possibility to appoint their own counsel. In turn, the absence of
timely legal counsel undermines safeguards against torture or ill-treatment in
detention. A further aspect related to economic conditions is the unreasonable amounts
requested to obtain bail. In practice, this is a discriminatory mechanism and constitutes an
insuperable financial barrier to children coming from disadvantaged families who, as a result, are
forced to remain in extremely poor conditions of detention.  
The juvenile justice system in the Philippines is tainted by the inconsistency between the
juvenile justice legislation as granted by the law (de jure) and its de facto practice. 
OMCT recommends the Committee to urge the Government of the Philippines to ensure
the concrete implement of the country’s juvenile justice legislation and put into practice all
related safeguards. These should include the assurance that Filipino children are not
unlawfully arrested and detained, and that, in case of legal arrest, children are
granted legal services and are protected from police brutality, regardless
of their economic means.
Child labour and child trafficking
The high rate of child labour in the Philippines is a source of serious
concern. According to a study carried out under the UN Common Country Assessment
(2004), in 2001 approximately 4 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 were
economically active in the Philippines. About 60 per cent of those were found to be engaged in
hazardous work and exposed to exploitation. The same Assessment estimated that between
60,000 and 100,000 children are victims of sexual exploitation in the Philippines. 
Child labour and other forms of exploitation, including trafficking are driven by poverty. 
The Committee on the Right of the Child has noted that persistent poverty and overseas
migration are among the factors contributing to the growth of child trafficking in the
Philippines. 
The State Report on children
§ 490: Juvenile Justice
Republic Act 9344, otherwise known as Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006,
provides for the immediate turnover of children in conflict with the law to social workers
upon apprehension instead of jailing them as was the practice. It also provides for the referral of
children's cases to community based rehabilitation programs (diversion programs) instead of
going to trial, and for
juvenile delinquency prevention programs as well as rehabilitation and reintegration. 
§426: Youth detention 
The presiding judge of the Family Court, who shall undergo training in dealing with
child and family relations cases, shall have direct control and supervision of the
youth detention home that the LGU shall establish to separate the youth offenders from the adult
criminals.  Alternatives to  detention  and  institutional  care shall be made available to  the
accused such  as  counselling,  recognizance, bail,  community continuum  or diversions  form
the justice system  and  that the human rights of the accused are fully respected in
a manner appropriate to their wellbeing. 
§ 444:  Rehabilitation Program for Street Children
Recovering  from  Substance Abuse –  a residential center based program that utilizes the
Modified Social Stress Model as a framework of intervention to help street children
exposed to substance abuse has a healthier life and prevents the harmful  use of substances.  The
project is being pilot tested at DSWDNCR’s Haven for Street Children in Alabang, Muntinlupa
City. 
Halfway Home for Children in Conflict with the Law – provides aftercare support to
youth who  have completed  their rehabilitation  program  and  with  court order for release either
to  their  families  or for independent living preparing  them  emotionally, socially and 
economically  for eventual reintegration to society. The project is being pilot tested in Region XI
(Davao City) in partnership with Bahay Kalamboan, an NGO catering to street children

Forced Evictions and the Right to Housing

In the Philippines, more than one third of the urban population lives in informal

settlements. More than half of these urban poor families (1.4 million) live in Metro Manila. 
In theory, the Government has addressed the concerns of the
urban poor concern through  its “Urban Development and Housing Act” (UDHA), which is
intended to provide adequate housing at affordable cost, basic services and employment
opportunities for the slum residents in resettlement areas. 16 However, owing to insufficient
capacities at the local level and the lack of appropriate mechanisms to ensure cooperation and
consultation in problem-solving, the conditions of urban slum residents have
only worsened, and they continue to face the threat of eviction and demolition from
both the government and private landowners. 
Urban demolitions and evictions
Over recent years, the Philippines has been engaged in a policy of urban “beautification”
and “development”. The associated projects have involved the eviction of hundreds of thousands
of people living in the urban areas concerned. Of these, the landless urban
poor are the most severely affected by forced evictions. This takes place despite the fact that
the Constitution of the Philippines and the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992
(UDHA) provide legal protection for housing rights. COHRE – The Centre for Housing  Rights
and Evictions – has observed that “the Government of the Philippines continues to 
use various strategies such as pressuring residents to relinquish these rights by signing 
waivers and then 'voluntarily' relocating them to sites that are not fit to be lived in.”
Demolitions and evictions  in Metro Manila
On 27 February 2007, personnel from the Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) together with armed police initiated the forced eviction of families living
under the South Superhighway Bridge and the San Andres Bridge 1 in Manila. During this
operation, two hundred
MMDA personnel and other armed police forces allegedly evicted 54 families living in the area
and demolished their homes. Many people, mostly women and children, were injured during the
demolitions. Five men were severely beaten by MMDA personnel.  
OMCT wishes to draw attention to the fact that the issue of forced evictions in the
Philippines was already identified as an element of concern in the 1995 concluding observations
of the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights. In particular, the Committee referred
to the scale of forced evictions and “the manner in which they are carried
out”, emphasizing that such a situation was not compatible with the respect for the right
to housing. 11

The State Report on housing issues
§ 608:  Legislation on Squatting and  Eviction 
Another important feature of UDHA (Urban Development and Housing Act) is that it
discourages eviction or demolition as a practice. Eviction is allowed only under the
following conditions, via:  when persons occupy danger areas; Or when government
infrastructure projects with available funding are about to be implemented; Or when there is a
court order for eviction and demolition.  The law also  outlines the guidelines  for eviction, via 
–  the provision of basic services  and  facilities in resettlement sites,  livelihood
support, meaningful  participation  and  adequate social  preparation  for the affected households,
close coordination  between sending  and host local 
government units, grievance redress and related aspects. 
§ 639: One major undertaking of the Government that has led to securing the housing tenure of
informal settler on a massive scale is the relocation project for the “riles”
dwellers living along the Northrail and Southrail lines.  In Northrail, the
government has relocated a total of 21,023 families from the Metro Manila
and Bulacan Segments, completing phase 1 of the clearing and resettlement operations. These
families have voluntarily moved to their respective resettlement sites, which the government has
dubbed the Northville communities. This is the most massive relocation project to be undertaken
by the government so far, HUDCC did  without the violent  conflicts associated with relocation.
For the Southrail project, which involves the rehabilitation of the existing  PNR Commuter
Service line from Caloocan  to Alabang,  a total  of 7,404 families  have
been relocated, particularly along the Manila, Makati and Cabuyao Segments. To sustain the
momentum,  the President instructed HUDCC to  clear the large portion  of Manila along with 
Taguig and Muntinlupa. 
§648:  Last 28 May 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order No.  20
reaffirming the government’s commitment to mass housing  as  a center piece program  in its 
poverty alleviation effort. 
§649: In order to address the housing problem, particularly those belonging to the bottom 40 per
cent of urban  households,  the Arroyo  administration pursued  the regularization of tenure of
informal  settler families (ISFs)  through the issuance of Presidential  proclamations  declaring 
parcels of public lands  open  for disposition to  qualified beneficiaries.  In addition, the
Government targeted the conversion of government idle or vacant lands into housing sites
that are intended to benefit low salaried government employees, including soldiers
and policemen.

Report  of the Special Rapporteur on  the situation of human rights  and  fundamental
freedoms of indigenous people, Mr. Rodolfo  Stavenhagen,  Mission  to The Philippines
E/CN.4/2003/90/Add.3,  5  March 2003,  § 21, 29 and 32:  “[…] These are lingering
social problems that can lead once more to social and political conflict and even 
violence if they do not receive prompt  and effective attention.”  14  Report  of the Special
Rapporteur on  the situation of human rights and  fundamental freedoms of indigenous
people, Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Mission to The Philippines
E/CN.4/2003/90/Add.3, 5 March  2003, §32: “At the present time,
the  Subanon people demand “the full recognition of their ancestral land  rights …
that  will  allow  them  to contribute  to the  process of defining a  development … that  is
people centred”
Concluding Observations on the Philippines, Committee on Economic Social
and Cultural  Rights,  E/C.12/1995/7, 7 June 1995, §14 22  30  “Philippines,  A  different 
childhood:  the  apprehension  and  detention of child suspects and offenders” 
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engasa350072003  Also: CRC/C/15/Add.259, 21
September 2005, § 83:
HRW Report: Scared Silent: Impunity for extrajudicial killings in the  Philippines, June
2007
HRW Report: Scared Silent: Impunity for extrajudicial killings in the  Philippines, June
2007. See  also  OMCT’s urgent appeals for further cases.
 The urbanization of the global population has fundamental ramifications for the
economy, society and the environment. Urban centres currently cover only a small part of the
world’s land surface - 0.51 percent of the total land area. However, urban areas will expand
significantly during the next two to three decades. Based on current trends, urban land cover will
increase by 1.2 million km2 by 2030, nearly tripling global urban land area between 2000 and
2030.
Cities cover a small part of the world, but their physical and ecological footprints are
much larger. Cities accounted for 82 percent of global GDP in 20143 and by 2025 this will rise
to an estimated 88 percent. There will be230 new cities by then, all in middle-income countries.
One hundred cities in China alone may account for 30 percent of global GDP at that time.
Cities produce more than 70 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions4
and use 80 percent of the world’s energy.5 The International Energy Agency projects that urban
energy-related GHG emissions will rise from around 67 percent today to 74 percent by 2030.6
Cities also host most of the world’s critical infrastructure, key development assets, political
institutions and major socioeconomic activities. Global analyses of climate change and disaster
impacts show that a high proportion of the people and economic activity affected by extreme
weather events is concentrated in urban centres.
The Sustainable Urbanization Strategy outlines UNDP’s response to the rapid
urbanization of the developing world and its consequences for sustainable development. It is
written for internal and external purposes. Externally, the strategy is targeted at local and
national government and development partners who are responsible for urban development. It
stands as UNDP’s global offering, outlining the organization’s intent, niche and particular areas
of focus on this issue. Internally, the strategy is intended to frame discussions, to help assess
urban issues through a multidimensional lens and to develop context-specific solutions to urban
development challenges for country programming.
Cities and urban centres are accelerators for social and economic progress. The economic
dynamism of cities provides livelihood opportunities and social mobility possibilities not found
in rural areas. Throughout history, cities have been hubs of innovation in technology, commerce,
social organization and ideas. The concentration of people, resources and ideas allows innovation
to occur at tremendous speed, generating economic activity and wealth at unprecedented rates.
Cities also provide opportunities for social mobility that are unavailable in traditional rural
environments. Throughout the world, migrants with ideas, entrepreneurial spirit and energy have
been drawn to cities to achieve their dreams.
However, cities are also home to significant concentrations of the poor and marginalized.
Urban poverty is growing and the World Bank estimates that, by 2035, most of the world’s
extreme poor will be found in urban areas.
 Urbanization has significant impacts on the environment and the well-being of urban
dwellers. Cities are key contributors to many environmental problems, such as air and water
pollution. Pervasive levels of air pollution has been seen recently in China, India and Mexico
City. For many cities, municipal waste is a significant problem. Globally, 3 billion urban
residents generate 1.2 kg of waste a day - 1.3 billion tonnes per year.14 This generates
challenges such as GHG from transporting waste, marine pollution (including plastics) from
coastal cities, shortage of land for landfill sites and health hazards such as cholera outbreaks,
from informal dumps and untreated waste.
Cities are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. This is due to the fact that
many cities are located in highly exposed coastal areas and riverbanks, which are prone to sea
level rise, typhoons, storms, flash floods and landslides. Urbanization also displaces open space
such as farmland, wetlands, parks and forests and reduces water supply as excessive ground
water usage depletes water tables. These degradations significantly reduce the ability of natural
ecosystems to filter air and water and provide other ecosystem services. The impacts of climate
change and disasters in cities disproportionately affect the poor, who normally settle in
compact settlements and slums, on riverbanks and steep slope areas where land is more
affordable or settled illegally. These areas are often prone to floods, storms and landslides. In
addition, people living in these areas tend to hold informal settlement status and thus receive
inadequate or no basic infrastructure and social services support. About one in seven people in
the world lives in deteriorated and overcrowded spaces in urban areas.
By 2040, the world’s energy systems will need to serve 9 billion people, with two
thirds of them in urban areas. The urban poor in many developing countries who typically have
access to some electricity face a number of challenges. They experience irregular supply,
frequent blackouts and quality problems associated with the grid electricity such as low or
fluctuating voltage.16 Affordability is another barrier, due to high connection fees and tariffs.
This can lead to continued use of unsustainable energy sources such as kerosene for lighting or
solid fuels for cooking and heating, which cause indoor pollution and increased health and safety
risks. Informal or illegal connections are also a common practice in many urban centres. As
economies develop, energy demand also increases significantly for uses such as refrigeration,
heating and cooling. In Mumbai, India, for example, 40 percent of total electricity consumption
is for air-conditioning.
Many cities remain strongly divided and segregated spatially and socially. High and
extreme inequality in cities is a driver of violence and unrest.18 In Latin America, UNDP’s
analysis points to a correlation between urbanization and rising crime where institutional
capacities to include marginalized groups are inadequate.19 Conflict-affected countries such as
Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq have cities characterized by an abundance of slums,
comprising 50 percent to 90 percent of total urbanization.
Vulnerable groups such as youths, migrants and IDPs often experience marginalization
and stigmatization. Amidst waves of conflict- and disaster-driven migration, the displaced are
increasingly seeking refuge in urban areas, with over half of the world’s 38 million IDPs and 13
million refugees living in towns and cities. Beyond displacement, economic migration
continues to be a major factor in the growth of cities. In many global cities such as Sydney,
London and New York, migrants make up more than one third of the population. In Asia and
Africa, fast-growing secondary and tertiary cities are expected to absorb much of the future
population growth through migration, with many migrants moving to, from and amongst rural
and urban areas in seasonal and circular flows.
Inequality between cities is also growing. The increasing concentration of wealth in a
few attractive cities is driving up the cost of living, forcing lower-paid residents to migrate to
distant suburbs or relocate entirely. In many developing countries, urban unemployment and
underemployment are now a rising concern, particularly for youth, women and marginalized
groups. One major element of city economies that still generates less attention is the informal
economy, yet it accounts for 50 percent to 80 percent of a city’s GDP and provides livelihoods
for the majority of poor and excluded groups in many developing countries.
Limited public space for city residents to access and limited opportunities for the
public to influence decision-making regarding public space or land use22 expose cities to the risk
of future internal conflict (gang violence, riots, civil unrest) and social exclusion based on a
population’s immigration or socio-economic status. It also leads to a range of other issues such
as reduced physical and mental health and reduced adaptive capacity to cope with heat island
effects and flooding.
In order to meet the SDGs by 2030, around 40 percent of the world’s population will
need proper housing and access to basic infrastructure and services such as water and
sanitation systems. This creates significant pressure on land and housing, particularly in urban
areas where supply is limited and policy and regulatory frameworks to manage demand are
poorly developed. The urban poor and other vulnerable groups (migrants, IDPs, female-headed
households) fare worst, as they lack access to housing, tenure security and land ownership. In
many developing countries, this often leads to the emergence of slum settlements.
Municipal administrations play a major role in ensuring proper urban planning, service
delivery and creation of economic opportunities (e.g., the 14 million jobs that need to be created
each year for young people). However, urbanization is peaking where the capacity to govern
is in short supply. Rapidly growing cities in developing countries are struggling to provide the
infrastructure, services and governance systems needed by their increasing populations as
they deal with competing priorities and demands.
The decentralization reforms that have occurred in many countries, such as in Latin
America, have given local governments and local communities increased influence on policies in
urban areas. Yet, fiscal decentralization lags behind. City leaders repeatedly point to the lack
of urban financing as one of the primary barriers to long-term development. In many instances,
the lack of financing options also drives cities towards unsustainable short-term solutions, for
instance by selling land for commercial development as a means of financing municipal
infrastructure, as has been common in many parts of China. Many municipal authorities,
particularly in developing countries, continue to lack access to revenue and the autonomy to
generate revenue. Access to affordable finance and enhanced administrative capacities is still
needed at all subnational tiers of government – municipal, metropolitan and regional.
Public authorities face increasing difficulty in maintaining effective governance in large
cities, due to corruption, the erosion of governance and institutional capabilities in the justice
system, law enforcement and security institutions, and poorly managed public space. The degree
of social integration and cohesion in a community also affects the rates of crime, violence and
peaceful coexistence. Without strong participatory governance systems, the needs of the poor
and marginalized, particularly of migrants, IDPs, women and minority groups, are often
neglected. Developing countries will need efficient, multi-tiered policy and institutional
mechanisms to address the complex and interconnected consequences of urbanization across all
tiers of government and with non-state actors.
Urbanization is not a challenge exclusively for cities. The shift of populations to urban
areas also has economic, social and governance consequences for peri-urban and rural areas
that need to be addressed. These surrounding territories provide vital goods and services to cities
such as labour and natural resources. In many developing countries, working-age rural dwellers
migrate to cities in search of economic opportunities, leaving the very young and the aged behind
in rural communities.
Rural-urban migration can also be highly gendered. In many regions, it is mainly the
men who leave in search of work, leaving women to work the fields and manage the burden of
care. In other countries, women go to cities for employment in households, factories or service
industries, which provide them with better incomes and greater economic and social
empowerment, but also exposes migrant women to the risk of exploitation. Declining
populations in rural areas also pose challenges for agriculture and for continuing to maintain
social service provision for smaller, scattered, aging populations. These challenges are already
evident in Europe and Japan, presaging challenges that developing countries will face in years to
come.
The rise of the middle class is becoming more apparent in many regions. In 2009, 1.8
billion people were considered to be middle class, with Europe (664 million), Asia (525 million)
and North America (338 million) accounting for the highest number of people in this group. It is
estimated that, by 2030, the middle class will account for nearly 5 billion out of the world’s 8
billion people, with most of them living in urban areas. This will continue to drive up global
demand for food, water, transport, energy and housing and contribute to GHG emissions,
particularly in developing countries where most of this urban growth occurs. All 10 of the
fastest-growing cities in the world at present are found in developing countries in Asia and
Africa.
The process of urbanization and the types of cities that emerge in the developing world
will deeply affect outcomes of many development challenges in the post-2015 era. The
infrastructural and economic characteristics of these growing cities will help determine
humanity’s ecological and climate footprints and the degree to which societies are resilient to
future climate, social and economic shocks. Success in poverty reduction will be influenced by
the degree to which urban poverty is understood, identified and overcome in this urbanization
process. Ensuring that these cities develop on sustainable development trajectories is therefore
one of the biggest challenges and opportunities on the development landscape.

Urban Governance for Sustainable Urban Development Guidance Note (2014) synthesizes
critical lessons from UNDP’s experience supporting urban governance initiatives and provides
a strategic conceptual framework and operational guidance for UNDP’s ongoing work in this
area. It underlines UNDP’s “defined niche and focus” as “ensuring inclusion of the poor in
urban governance and management processes, and supporting measures for facilitating
equitable access to productive assets and services”. It stresses the importance of supporting
integrated approaches at multiple scales, working directly with the urban poor and other urban
stakeholders, building capacity and supporting reform of urban institutions, and applying a
governance lens to tackle a host of urban challenges.
African Development Bank Group (2011). Urban Development Strategy: Transforming Africa’s
Cities and Towns into Engines of Economic Growth and Social Development. Available at
http://www. afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/ Policy-Documents/Urban-
Development%20Strategy-Rev%201.pdf
Ghani, E. & Kanbur, R. (2012) Urbanization and (In) Formalization. Available at
http://www.worldbank. org/en/topic/urbandevelopment/publication/ papers-sixth-urban-
research-knowledge-symposium
Fuller, B & Romer, P. (2012). Urbanization as Opportunity. New York, NY: NYU Stern
Urbanization Project.
CDIA (Cities Development Initiative for Asia) (2010). “PPP Guide for Municipalities.” Metro
Manila, Philippines. Available at http://cdia.asia/ wp-content/uploads/PPP-Guide-for-
MunicipalitiesFINAL-100609.pdf
Becker, C.M. (2008). “Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration” in International Handbook of
Development Economics, A. Dutt, J. Ros (eds.). Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Bloom, D., Canning D. & Fink, G. (2008). “Urbanization and the Wealth of Nations”. Science,
vol. 319, p. 772.
Snover, A.K., L. Whitely Binder, J. Lopez, E. Willmott, J. Kay, D. Howell & J. Simmonds (2007).
Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional, and State Governments. In
association with and published by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Oakland, CA.
UNDP (2004). Decentralised Governance for Development: A Combined Practice Note on
Decentralisation, Local Governance and Urban/ Rural Development. Available at http://www.
undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/ democratic-governance/local_governance/
decentralised-governance-for-development-acombined-practice-note-on-decentralisation-
localgovernance-and-urban-rural-development.html

The Role of Urbanization in Sustainable Development

“Cities are increasingly the home of humanity. They are central to climate action, global
prosperity, peace and human rights. More than half of all people live in cities and human
settlements, and that proportion is projected to grow to two thirds by 2050. To transform our
world, we must transform its cities.”
Introduction
Urbanization is defined as an “increase in the proportion of a population living in urban
areas.’’ This phenomenon has become a rapidly growing force over the course of the past
century, as an increasing number of people have begun to move to towns and cities. Over the
past 25 years, the global urban population has grown from just over 2.5 billion people in
1990 to just under 4 billion in 2015, which represents an increase from 43% to 54% of the
global population. During the 1990s, urban populations grew at a rate of 57 million people
per year and from 2010 to 2015 that growth increased to 77 million people per year. By
2030, 60% of the global population is anticipated to reside in cities. While there are many
advantages to urbanization, such as more efficient use of resources, there are also numerous
challenges and threats associated with rapid urbanization and poor urban planning. A major
challenge is the growth of slums, which frequently form due to rapid urbanization and a lack
of affordable housing and are more vulnerable to natural disasters and crime. Another
challenge is the high rate of discrimination and segregation that is commonly observed in
quickly growing cities, leaving the urban poor out of the decision-making process despite
their high stakes in urban planning and policymaking. Moreover, access to education and
healthcare becomes a challenge in poorly planned urban areas. Middle and low-income
countries have experienced the highest rate of urbanization since 1995, with continents like
Africa and Asia experiencing 90% of urban growth. As the rate of urbanization has
increased, the international community has increasingly sought to achieve sustainable urban
development, which “strives to meet the essential needs of all, without overstepping the
limitations of the natural environment.”
The increasing role played by urbanization in sustainable development has been
recognized by numerous recent documents, most recently with the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) (2015) and the New Urban Agenda (2016). While
numerous Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relate to urbanization, goal 11 addresses
this topic directly, as it aims to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
and sustainable.” While SDG 11 and its targets are a crucial aspect of achieving sustainable
development, the reaches of the role of urbanization in sustainable development are far
greater.
International and Regional Framework
In 1976, the first United Nations (UN) Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat I),
convened in Vancouver, Canada, and adopted the first declaration pertaining to human
settlements, known as the Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements. This declaration
recognized opportunities, threats, and solutions to the growth of human settlements, and
created the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to address emerging issues
related to urbanization. Since Habitat I, the global community has reconvened in Turkey for
Habitat II (1996) and in Ecuador for Habitat III (2016). During Habitat III, Member States,
international organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and advocacy groups adopted the
Quito Declaration on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements for All (New Urban
Agenda), building on the outcome document of Habitat II known as The Habitat Agenda:
Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements (1996). The New Urban Agenda recognizes
housing, basic services and infrastructure, access to healthcare and education, employment,
food security, and safety as some of the most pressing issues facing cities in the 21st century.
Unlike the previous agendas, the New Urban Agenda approaches the question of human
settlements and urbanization in the context of the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG.
In addition to the actions taken by UN-Habitat, the Third International Conference on
Financing for Development adopted the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) in July 2015,
outlining a global financing framework to further reduce inequality, including that between
urban and rural populations, which is often referred to as the rural-urban divide. The AAAA
aligns with the SDGs in its aims to end hunger and promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization, but specifically seeks to secure the financial support necessary for their
achievement by mobilizing national and international funds. Furthermore, it suggests
cooperation between private and public sector, such as building rural infrastructure through
public-private partnerships creating accountable blended finance instruments that mix public
and private funds.
Like the AAAA, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the
outcome document of the Third UN World Conference in March 2015, also highlights the
vulnerabilities caused by the rural-urban divide and emphasizes that unplanned and rapid
urbanization can cause or compound disasters. The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
(UNISDR), which coordinates UN disaster reduction activities across the UN system, is
tasked with the document’s implementation and review. The Sendai Framework promotes
annual regional meetings and encourages governments to share concerns and risk reduction
approaches with their regional neighbours. Examples of this regional cooperation are the
Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2016 in New Delhi, India, the Fifth
Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas in Montreal, Canada, and the
6th Session of Africa Regional Platform and 5th High-Level Meeting on Disaster Risk
Reduction in Mauritius.
Role of the International System
As the principle Main Committee for addressing development, the General Assembly
Second Committee regularly discusses issues related to urbanization and its effects. During
its 70th session in 2015, the General Assembly adopted resolutions 70/189 and 70/214, on
“Financial inclusion for sustainable development” and “Culture and sustainable
development,” both of which provide recommendations on reconsidering economic and
financial instruments within the sustainable development framework and their effects on
urbanization. Furthermore, General Assembly resolution 70/189 highlights the inclusion of
clauses pertaining to inclusive financial development as outlined in the AAAA, and focus on
sustainable urbanization while solving food security issues from both a rural and an urban
perspective. Moreover, General Assembly resolution 70/214 contributes to financial
inclusivity, by recommending a stronger focus on cultural relations in economic
opportunities and financial development. This has also been highlighted by the World
Urbanization Prospects, a report published by the UN Department of Social and Economic
Affairs (DESA), which compiles economic, environmental and social data to enhance and
support intergovernmental cooperation. The Second Committee has also considered ensuring
access to transportation, through resolutions 69/213 of 30 January 2015, titled “Role of
transport and transit corridors in ensuring international cooperation for sustainable
development” and 70/197 of 16 February 2016, titled “Towards comprehensive cooperation
among all modes of transport for promoting sustainable multimodal transport corridors.”
These resolutions identify the need for safe and reliable transportation both within urban
areas and internationally, highlighting the need for accessible, safe, and reliable
transportation, which is important when considering urbanization, rapid urban growth, and
the implications for achieving sustainable development. Other General Assembly resolutions
that deliberate on factors tying into the role of urbanization in sustainable development are
resolutions 69/266 on “A global geodetic reference frame for sustainable development”, and
71/221, titled “Entrepreneurship for sustainable development.”
Under the auspices of the General Assembly and ECOSOC, the High-Level Political
Forum (HLPF) convenes to discuss, among other things, the application of specific SDGs
and to develop best practices for local communities in implementing and achieving the
SDGs. The 2017 HLPF focused on SDGs relating to providing basic human needs, such as
food, environmental protection, gender equality, and economic opportunities. Continuing
with the focus on rotating SDGs, the 2018 HLPF will focus on a different set of SDGs
including Goal 11.
As part of its role as the UN agency responsible for sustainable urban development, UN-
Habitat published the World Cities Report 2016, Urbanization and Development: Emerging
Futures in the lead up to Habitat III. The report highlights many goals of sustainable urban
development, such as promoting environmental stability, fostering inclusive growth, and
empowering collaboration among all stakeholders in urban areas. It also examines the
progress, opportunities, risks, and threats of the last 20 years of urbanization since Habitat II.
It includes discussions on the expansion of slums and the resulting social inequality, the
effects of climate change on urban areas, and spreading of crime. UN-Habitat’s work
provided participants in Habitat III with timely information about the status of urbanization.
UN DESA, in cooperation with the Yangzhou Municipal People’s Government, held a
High Level Symposium on Sustainable Cities and Sustainable Urbanisation in 2013, which
produced a set of best practices for local and regional governments titled the Yangzhou
Recommendations on Sustainable Cities and Urbanization. Similarly, UN-Habitat, the UN
Development Programme (UNDP), and the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional
Governments launched a platform called “Localizing the SDGs” to increase the accessibility
of SDGs. The platform provides cities and smaller communities with a toolbox for raising
awareness of the SDGs, acts as an advocacy platform, and offers practical support to
developing communities. Through organizations such as the UNISDR, UNDP, the World
Health Organization (WHO), and UN-Habitat, numerous programs have emerged that aim to
bring together international organizations, national governments, and other stakeholders,
such as local governments and civil society groups, to improving urban governance. The
Health and Environment Linkages Initiative (HELI), a joint effort between WHO and the UN
Environment Programme, encourages Member States to prioritize and address environment
health risks, including those caused by rapid urbanization. The UN Population Fund
(UNFPA) works within the framework of Habitat III and collaborates with UN-Habitat to
provide sexual and reproductive health to urban slums. Furthermore, UNFPA has partnered
with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) to promote human
rights and social inclusion in urban environments. In cooperation with other research
institutions and Civil Society Organizations, IIED has launched programs such as Urban
Africa Risk Knowledge and the Urban Crises Learning Fund to provide capacity-building
measures and to improve future urban planning and urban humanitarian initiatives.
Various local initiatives have also contributed to reduce the negative impacts of rapid
urbanization. National frameworks such as Morocco’s Cities without Slums Programme
(“Villes sans bidonvilles”) and Indonesia’s National Slum Upgrading Program (KOTAKU)
provide strategic frameworks that focus on slum upgrading. “Villes sans bidonvilles” aims to
increase the accessibility to basic services in cooperation with UN-Habitat. KOTAKU has
been a cooperative effort of the Indonesian national government, municipal governments,
non-governmental organizations, the World Bank, and private corporations. Aside from
upgrading current slums, the program has increased the institutional capacity of municipal
governments to improve future urban planning.
Cultural, Social, and Political Aspects of Urbanization
As the rate of urbanization has increased, numerous social, cultural, and political factors
have influenced the development of urban areas. Consequently, urbanization is closely tied to
a changing social fabric, as cities frequently act as a nexus of different cultures. Although
both the New Urban Agenda and General Assembly resolution 70/214 promote cultural
dialogue and inclusion, research has shown that changing cultural dynamics caused by rapid
urbanization has decreased mental well-being among vulnerable urban dwellers. Though
cities offer unparalleled economic opportunities with urban areas accounting for up to 80%
of gross national product globally, differences between the rich and poor in cities are
exacerbated. Attracted by economic opportunities and the prospect of improved quality of
life, poor rural populations migrate to cities. Many urban migrants arrive in cities through
unofficial channels and are often unable to afford regulated housing. This rural-urban
migration frequently results in inequality and marginalization due to cultural differences as
well as prejudices, which are amplified by the creation of slums or temporary residences.
With inequalities amplified, the urban poor form an especially vulnerable population,
often marginalized and excluded from accessing services such as waste water management,
energy access, transportation, education, and healthcare. While 670 million people used to
live in slums in 1990, this number has increased to 863 million in 2017. Adding to the urban
migration and consequent growth are displaced people and international migrants, of which
20% live in the world’s 20 largest cities. In some cities, less funds are allocated to
infrastructure development in poorer neighbourhoods. According to UNDP, public spaces
accessible to all would mitigate marginalization and reduce inequality as poor and rich
neighbourhoods become more integrated. As local governments are the most accessible to
urban communities, empowering urban governance and planning on the political level closest
to the community in question is of utmost importance and has proven to be more effective.
Disaster Management and Security Issues
Rapid urbanization exerts a strain on existing resources within cities and frequently
results in poorly planned urban regions, which are more prone to daily threats such as air and
water pollution and inadequate waste management, as well as acute threats such as droughts,
floods, and storms. Despite international recognition of the importance of health and well-
being, sanitation, responsible consumption, and climate action, between 2009 and 2013, 35%
of the urban population in 101 cities around the world were not provided with solid waste
removal and in 2014, 90% of urban residents lived in regions that did not comply with
standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Communicable diseases, such as
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and cholera, spread more easily in urban areas
that lack sanitation and other health measures.
Informal settlements often form in regions prone to environmental risks. As many of
these areas are already populated by vulnerable populations due to social and cultural
differences, the location of informal settlements in vulnerable environments increases the
inequality experienced by recent settlers. UNISDR launched the “Making Cities Resilient”
campaign in 2010, with the aim to raise awareness of the benefits of reducing risks, invest
wisely in new infrastructure projects, and integrate disaster risk reduction policies into urban
planning and development. Disaster risk reduction is critical in improving the quality of life
in urban settlements, as it reduces the risk of daily and acute environmental threats, as well as
crime and other artificial hazards. Consequently, disaster risk reduction for urban
environments is closely linked to achieving SDGs that not only aim to protect the
environment but also address human development and well-being.
Economic Opportunities of Urbanization
 Urbanization is not only the subject of SDG 11 specifically, but is also a key driver for
achieving other SDGs; Goals 8 and 9 specifically highlight and support the benefits of
urbanization. Access to jobs, higher wages, education, and healthcare, which are often
missing in rural regions, are found in urban areas, as 55% of the gross domestic product
(GDP) in low-income states, 73% of GDP in middle-income states, and 85% of GDP in high-
income states originate in urban regions. The high rates of urbanization in East Asia and
Africa coincide with the fastest growing economic regions in the world, with an annual
growth rate of around four percent. This economic growth often originates in cities, where a
significant part of the urban workforce is employed in the informal sector. Although this
sector provides employment and an income to its workers, low pay, excessive overtime,
unsafe working conditions, and little to no social protections are common. Rural-urban
migrants who did not receive the level of education offered in cities often work in the
informal sector and constitute a group especially vulnerable to economic risks which are
associated with urbanization. To address this problem, ILO works toward improving the
economic opportunities of those in the informal sector, suggesting that working conditions
can be improved through “realizing fundamental principles and rights at work, creating
greater and better employment and income opportunities, extending social protection, and
promoting social dialogue.” Furthermore, as outlined in the UN Economic Commission for
Africa’s Economic Report on Africa 2017, economic opportunities can be enhanced through
addressing the quality and form of urban development early on, as well as recognizing
different economic opportunities, increasing economic efficiency, and implementing long-
term strategies for economic urban planning.

Conclusion
Through SDG 11, urbanization is recognized as an important factor in sustainable
development. 249 Even though there are positive effects linked to urbanization, it also poses
threats and challenges to certain aspects of sustainable development, as the quality of life can
decrease through poorly managed urban migration. Along with other international
organizations and UN bodies, the Second Committee has approached the role of urbanization
in sustainable development from numerous sides, such as cultural implications, economic
opportunities, public transportation, and access to basic services. The SDGs and the New
Urban Agenda, as outcome document of the Member States’ discussions on the role of
urbanization, promote sustainable development while recognizing the influence and impact
of urbanization, especially in developing countries, where the rate of urbanization is greatest.
To harness the positive effects of urbanization in achieving sustainable development, it is
imperative to recognize the benefits and drawbacks of urbanization and consequent economic
development.
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 Food insecurity has been defined as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an
active and healthy life. In other words, there are millions of people all over the world who suffer
from a shortage of food and cannot tell if they will be able to feed themselves the next day or at
the end of the day. This is the basis of defining food insecurity. It is a dangerous concept as it
does not exist in isolation. Low-income families could be affected by multiple overlapping issues
such as social isolation, acute and chronic health problems, and the lack of affordable housing,
low wages, and high medical costs, among others. These factors could also result in food
insecurity and vice versa, making it a complex and more dangerous state of life.
They are all social determinants of health and when addressing the effective responses to
food insecurity, these overlapping challenges have to be addressed as well. Here is an elaborate
discussion of the causes, effects, and solutions to food insecurity.
Here are some of the possible solutions to food insecurity.
1. Reduce Food Waste
Food is wasted mainly because of inefficient preparations, bumpy or bad roads, over-
selective customers, and inadequate storage facilities. If storage facilities are improved and there
are adequate preparations for how the food will be used, less food will be wasted, and there will
be a more food secure community. As mentioned earlier, FAO reports that each year, the food
wasted globally is about 1.3 billion tonnes.
2. Reduce the Risk of Commercialising
If food is grown for the purposes of feeding the community or nation, food insecurity
levels will go down. Farmers can produce more food crops and will be able to produce cash
crops when there are enough food crops in the market.
There will be less risk of commercialization of food if it is sufficient in the market.
Governments should also implement programs that can allow farmers to know when there is
sufficient food for everyone.
3. Improve Existing Infrastructural Programs
 Some farmers fail to get their produce to the market because of poor infrastructure
including roads, storage facilities, and food processing equipment. It ends up rotting in the farms
than being taken to those who need it or for processing. If the infrastructure is improved, more
food will be available in the market and the food insecurity levels can go down.
4. Improve Trade Policies
Some farmers fail to feed the community because of unfair trade policies. Corporate
giants have already stepped in and commercialized food, making it harder for small-scale
farmers to have their products in the market. Governments should, therefore, improve such
policies, and make it fair for everyone to participate.

5. Promote Diversification
Focusing on a single food crop or staple can produce terrible outcomes for food
insecurity reduction. As such, to improve food security, there needs to be training on the
importance of diversified and healthy diets for better nutrition.
With more varieties of food and an educated community on the importance of a
diversified diet, there will be sufficient staple foods available in the markets.
6. Close the Yield Gap
Most of our farming lands are drained of their natural fertility levels and cannot produce
as much as they did years ago. To close the gap, governments and agricultural institutions in
charge have come up with strategies and programs for improving crop yields, especially
location-specific methods of sustainable agricultural intensification such as soil management and
land improvement.
Land conversion should be avoided as it encroaches into natural habitats and forests, and
affects biodiversity and wildlife, and increases GHG emissions. The strategy or program set up
should ensure food is available for all, and that wildlife and forests are not affected.
7. Work towards Defeating Climate Change
Climate change is severely affecting our lives and the production of food. If we fight
climate change and farm sustainably, we will be able to ensure there is enough food for us and
future generations. It is an additional step in fighting food insecurity.

References:
Bishop, M. (2017). The Cycle of Food Insecurity. Public Health Post. Retrieved
from https://www.publichealthpost.org/research/cycle-food-insecurity/
“UNDERSTAND FOOD INSECURITY”. (n.d.). Feeding America. Retrieved
from https://hungerandhealth.feedingamerica.org/understand-food-insecurity/
 Verchot, M. (2020). 5 Ways to Improve Global Food Security. Treehugger. Retrieved
from https://www.treehugger.com/ways-improve-global-food-security-4858809

So, how can organic farming help to address food security? It can do so both directly and
indirectly. Organic is about more than farming without pesticides or artificial fertilisers. Organic
takes a systems-based approach, working with rather than against nature. This involves
optimising the use of natural resources and relying on holistic methods like crop-rotation,
composting and growing nitrogen-fixing crops to build soil fertility and create a system that can
increase yields and is more resilient in the face of climate change.

Crop rotation - a method which involves growing different crops in succession to sustain soil
health - means that farmers also produce a range of crops that can help diversify their income
and provide an important source of nutrition. This is a very direct way in which organic farming
can help alleviate food insecurity, and its benefits are globally recognised.

While food security is an inherent benefit of the organic approach at the farm level,
organic farming also has a broader, global contribution to make in the fight against hunger and
food security, by helping to mitigate climate change. 

Climate change - extreme weather events and prolonged periods of drought and floods - is
exacerbating food insecurity. In fact, the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation stated in
their 2018 report on the state of food security and nutrition in the world that, "the cumulative
effect of changes in climate is undermining all dimensions of food security - food availability,
access, utilization and stability."

Despite the lower greenhouse gas emissions per hectare from organic farming, the
assumption is sometimes made that lower yields will force an increase in overall land needed and
thereby drive greater climate impact from deforestation. This assumption fails to take into
account the imperative of dietary change to reverse the global obesity and diabetes crisis -
healthier diets would reduce the land requirement for livestock and cereals. The ‘Ten Years for
Agro ecology in Europe' study modelled the impact of transitioning all European farmland to
organic, and found that this could both feed Europeans a healthy diet and maintain export
capacity while cutting agricultural greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent. For smallholder
agriculture in developing countries, adoption of organic and agro ecological systems tends
to increase yield due to soil organic matter restoration and drought resilience.
 Agriculture is the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions after energy and
transport. This is partly due to conventional agriculture's reliance on high levels of artificial
nitrogen fertiliser which drives nitrous oxide emissions and is highly energy-intensive to
produce. As the recent UN Report on the Right to Food put it; "food systems are not only at great
risk from climate change… they also are a major contributor to the emissions of greenhouse
gases that are responsible for such changes. This is one major reason why a shift to agro
ecological modes of production is urgently called for."

It isn't just farming and food businesses that can have a positive impact on global hunger.
Fashion and textile businesses can play a huge role in tackling issues of food insecurity and
hunger by sourcing organic cotton. Some 98 per cent of those suffering chronic hunger live in
developing countries, which are also home to 99 per cent of the world's cotton farmers. Crop
rotation helps provide a source of food and additional income and helps to address the four
dimensions of food security identified by the FAO; availability, stability, access and utilisation.

Numerous peer reviewed studies have shown that organic cotton can also help in the
broader fight against climate change too. One life cycle analysis (LCA) addressing cotton
production indicated that organic cotton has 46 per cent reduced global warming potential
compared to conventional cotton.

Also, hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity are issues in developed counties too,
including the UK. A report from the Food Foundation in 2017 found that only eight per cent of
UK children aged 11-18 are eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. By supporting UK
grown agro ecological and organic horticulture, fresh produce could become more accessible.

Supporting organic and agro ecological methods of production and including organic
produce in procurement strategies is an empowering and straightforward way that businesses can
contribute towards the SDG goal of ending hunger and food insecurity worldwide. Businesses
can be confident that they are supporting a method of production that not only makes a positive
contribution in the fight against climate change but enables farmers to feed themselves. There is
good evidence to back these claims up, which gives businesses an opportunity to tell the story to
their customers. This helps to raise awareness of the SDGs and provides a way for ordinary
citizens and consumers to engage with and contribute to achieving these ambitious goals.

https://www.businessgreen.com/opinion/3068554/why-organic-farming-can-help-feed-the-
world-sustainably
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