Professor John Thwaites, Professor of Monash Sustainable Development Institute (Australia)

Topic: Water, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Future of Cities

Abstract

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”) provide a framework that helps cities address the key challenges they face including rapid population growth, climate change and rising social expectations. The goals provide benchmarks for governments, cities and business that mobilise action and partnerships. The water SDG6 and the city SDG11 goals have a number of interlinkages that can help promote benefits for city residents and the environment.  The SDGs are particularly useful in achieving effective implementation of city plans and water utility plans because they mobilise all actors around a common set of goals and targets and because they help expand the range of options considered. Two case studies are given based on Professor John Thwaites’s experience as Chair of Melbourne Water and Chair of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. The first relates to how Melbourne Water, which is responsible for Melbourne’s water, sewerage, drainage and river health is using the SDGs in its decision-making processes around capital works. The second case study relates to a major research project led by Monash University that aims to demonstrate a new approach to delivering water, sanitation and flood mitigation in informal settlements in cities in Indonesia and Fiji.