A Utopian Approach to Sustainability
Introduction
Our idea is about creating a vision of a city where sustainability works perfectly. Instead of focusing on small solutions, we want to imagine a place where sustainability is a natural part of everyday life.
We will explore various relevant aspects of this utopian city—how businesses operate sustainably without compromising profitability, how waste is managed efficiently, how clean energy is produced, and so on. By bringing these ideas together, we will create a complete picture of what a truly sustainable city could look like for us.
This is not about proposing real-world solutions but about offering a vision that can help shape future ideas. By picturing a world where sustainability is fully integrated, we can better understand what is missing today and what steps might bring us closer to a more sustainable future.
Corporate sustainability
In an ideal urban environment, corporate sustainability should not be limited to meeting compliance requirements but should be a key driver of a culture of innovation. Enterprises should deeply integrate sustainable development into their core strategies, focusing on responsible resource management, circular economy principles, net-zero emission targets and so on. Enterprises should adopt a range of practical measures, such as actively adopting renewable energy sources, striving to reduce waste generation, and establishing sustainable supply chains to ensure ethical labour practices. Green finance and sustainable business models should be introduced to incentivise enterprises to break away from the pursuit of short-term profits and create long-term value. In addition, enterprises should actively invest in the welfare of their employees, promote diversification, and strengthen community engagement to ensure that economic growth benefits a wider range of people.
In my vision of a perfect sustainable city, I believe that roads should play a much bigger role than just providing transportation. I imagine streets that actively contribute to the environment; roads that generate their own energy through wind, sun or even footprints; roads that collect and manage rainwater to prevent flooding; roads that purify the air with integrated green technologies such as moss walls or smart surfaces; and roads built from recycled, eco-friendly materials. By combining these elements, I aim to create a fully sustainable road system that supports a greener, cleaner and smarter city. Roads should be part of the solution in our fight against climate change and urban pollution, not the problem.
Relationship among Governance, Businesses, and People
Looking at today’s world, the path toward sustainability seems often fragmented. Governments impose ambiguous regulations, businesses still perceive sustainability as a trade-off with profit, and people often feel unaware or powerless in the face of the urgent crisis we are facing. Instead of a collective movement, sustainability efforts resemble a struggle in which politics, businesses, and people act independently, sometimes even blaming each other for inaction.
But what if things were different? What if these three forces worked in full cooperation, not as separate entities but as interconnected parts of a single system?
In our utopian city, sustainability is not an isolated effort. Politics, businesses, and people do not operate in silos but function as a collective force, seamlessly aligned in their objectives. There is no longer a need for external pressure or strict regulations. Sustainability is no longer seen as a burden but as the most natural and beneficial choice for everyone:
- Governance is built on trust, not enforcement. Regulation empower rather than restrict, supporting businesses in sustainable transformation and providing citizens with the tools to contribute actively.
- Businesses see sustainability as a driver of success, alongside profit. Circular economy principles guide innovation, products are designed to last, and consumers are active participants in responsible consumption.
- People are active participants in sustainability. Every person understands their role in maintaining the city’s balance, not because they are forced to. The entire system makes “green choices” the easiest and most practical: waste sorting is seamless, transportation is low-emission by design, and everyday actions strengthen environmental well-being.
In this vision, sustainability is not a burden or point of division, but a unifying force: it’s the foundation of a thriving society.
Social sustainability
Social sustainability-It aims to create sustainable and successful places that promote well-being by understanding the needs of individuals in the places they live and work.In the vision of a perfect sustainable city we are looking into addressing all elements of sustainability in depth and social sustainability is part of it.
- It is one of the three pillars of sustainability.
- Social sustainability is not just about wellbeing but also sustaining a good level of social wellbeing
- The vlogs and videos posted aim to reach people both locally and globally. The sustainability action is intended to affect people globally, not just locally using social media.
- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHZKvNJRf6pJMrwDSbNX52TkmKvyQXsYqkMtjOqs4oATI8lg/viewform?usp=preview
- This is a link to a form I created to further understand people’s perspectives on social sustainability.
- Social sustainability aims at improving quality of life, economic growth and environmental sustainability.
- Social sustainability to be achieved there must be education and awareness, collaboration and initiatives, implementation of policies and regulations that promote social sustainability and Community-led initiatives.
- Social sustainability is about creating a world where people thrive, communities flourish, and everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
- It focuses on the well-being of individuals and communities and emphasizes the importance of social equity, inclusiveness, and the quality of life for current and future generations
Green cities
Green cities represent a critical strategy for promoting sustainability in urban environments by integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into urban planning and development. These cities focus on reducing their ecological footprint through the implementation of eco-friendly infrastructure and sustainable practices such as green spaces and sustainable transportation systems to mitigate the negative effects of urbanization. Green cities encourage biodiversity through the integration of parks, green roofs, and urban forests, which enhance biodiversity, improve air quality, and provide essential ecosystem services like carbon sequestration and flood regulation. Sustainable transportation options like bike lanes, electric buses, and pedestrian-friendly streets further reduce the city’s carbon footprint.
Urban agriculture leads to food security through self-reliance, reduced carbon emissions during transportation and reduce waste which usually is because of spoilt food during transportation. Economically, it creates employment opportunities, stimulates local economies and fosters innovation
Greenspaces like parks, urban forests offer people a place for relaxation, recreation, and the opportunity to connect with nature which is linked to better physical and mental health.
Ideas could be highlighting
- Raise awareness about the benefits of green cities and push for the inclusion of environmental sustainability in urban policies and master planning
- Call for expansion of public transport systems, the development of cycling lanes, and the implementation of pedestrian-friendly urban designs. This promotes a shift from car-centric to more sustainable transportation models, reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, and enhancing public health.
- Local programs aimed at encouraging citizens to participate in urban greening projects, waste reduction, and recycling program.
Eco-Friendly Transportation: Moving Towards a Greener Future
In a sustainable city, transportation should benefit the environment rather than contribute significantly to pollution. The main goals of eco-friendly transportation include lowering carbon emissions, enhancing air quality, and facilitating travel without endangering the environment.
Cities must focus on greener alternatives and reduce their reliance on automobiles in order to achieve this:
🚲 Better Walking and Cycling Paths –By creating more bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets, people will be more inclined to walk or cycle rather than drive, which is healthier for their health and the environment.
🚌 Improving Public Transport – Public transportation will become more dependable, cutting emissions and the demand for private vehicles, with investments in electric buses, effective trains, and improved metro systems.
🚗 Electric and Hybrid Cars –Cleaner air in cities will result from more charging stations and incentives for electric cars (EVs), which will make them a more sensible and cost-effective option.
🌍 Carpooling and Ride-Sharing – Encouraging people to share rides instead of driving alone will help reduce traffic and pollution at the same time.
A city with environmentally friendly transportation aims to make travel smoother, cleaner, and more efficient for everyone, not simply to cut emissions. We can build cities that are healthier, less polluting, and better for coming generations if we reconsider how we travel.
Sustainable energy system
In a perfect sustainable city, energy production is based on renewable sources such as solar, wind or geothermal energy. The use of solar panels on building rooftops, wind farms, and geothermal systems allow to generate energy while avoiding negative impact on the environment. People do not use conventional energy sources, like coal, which have harmful effects on both the environment and human health. Moreover, in this case not only the production of energy plays a significant role, but also the way how it’s used. It is crucial that the whole infrastructure of the city supports this system and the buildings are constructed to minimize energy consumption. Apart from that, the society needs to consume the energy reasonably, understanding how it works and knowing how to save it, as well as be aware of its impact on their daily life.
Eco- friendly construction
It involves ensuring that activities involved in construction such as sourcing out materials for its final demolition are done in a way that does not negatively impact the environment. Various steps can be taken towards such a goal. They include; sourcing out sustainable quality materials such as rammed earth, energy efficiency by implementing solar smart energy systems, Water conservation by recycling and treating the used greywater, including rooftop gardens or vertical farms to improve circulation, waste reduction by minimizing site waste, and many more. In an attempt to create a perfect city, we begin with fundamental areas which include our buildings. This also includes improving the current buildings to one that fits the criteria. If we ensure that all buildings in the world follow such kind of regulations, we will be well on our way to fight against climate change while conserving the environment.
This is my idea towards building a sustainable world by ensuring our buildings also work towards it too.
Winston Churchill once said “We shape our buildings: thereafter they shape us. “Let us join forces to ensure we build a heaven on earth.
CONCLUSION
Our vision of a utopian sustainable city is one where every aspect of urban life (i.e, business, governance, transportation, infrastructure, and community engagement) works in harmony with nature rather than against it. By seamlessly integrating sustainability into corporate strategies, urban planning, and everyday decision-making, we can create cities that not only support economic growth but also prioritize environmental and social well-being.
This utopia serves as a model to inspire innovation and change in the real world. We wanted to demonstrate that sustainability is not just an abstract goal but a feasible reality if we rethink our current systems.
Perhaps the real challenge is not whether such a world is possible, but whether we are ready to believe in it.
Group number – Group 7
Moderator:
Shalinka Handapangodage (University of Helsinki)
Group Members:
Ayoma Kulathunga (University of Helsinki), Fereywot Bzabe Wodamo (University of Johannesburg), Maciej Karcz (Jagiellonian University), Mercy Chepnge’noh (University of Nairobi), Luyu Zong (Leiden University), Winnie Musili (University of Nairobi), Dinkwetse Motsi (University of Johannesburg), Valerio Battaglia (University of Bologna) and Eyyüp Palmanak (University of Bologna).
Under the UnVex Exchange Program