Plastic to Prototype: Can Microbes Help Build Sustainable Cities?

This paper examines whether the commercial digital simulation game “Cities: Skylines” enables players to simulate sustainable city development. The analysis consists of an analytical framework founded on the literature regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goal “Sustainable Cities and Communities” (SDG 11, United Nations). The study applies the analytical framework to the city builder, observing that many aspects of sustainable city development can be employed when building a city in “Cities: Skylines”. While the analysis suggests that the in-game feedback is very neutral vis-à-vis sustainability, the game offers a vast digital space where players and pupils learning geography can practically experience and experiment with the complexity of urban geography. Thus, “Cities: Skylines” could offer the opportunity to familiarize learners with “Sustainable Cities and Communities”. The analysis helps to assess the extent to which the game can be of educational benefit for geography education despite its commercial character. The paper concludes with educational implications and emphasizes the opportunity to experience sustainable city development in the digital simulation game “Cities: Skylines”.

The Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. With economic growth and development, the number cities has increased, and the slums are also increasing, which cause a number of problems like solid waste management, pollution, poor traffic systems, and many more. Among other major concerns, one significant concern is that of energy consumption. To protect the environment, it has become significant to act sustainably and choose sustainable ways to develop cities. Globally, there has been raising concern over the disparities and energy-related CO2 emissions. With an increase in the number of people living in cities, the construction of sustainable cities has become necessary; hence in this regard, it has become crucial to concentrate on technological innovation in energy efficiency. The sustainable urban development path will transform cities to achieve Goal 11 for the path to a sustainable future. Energy efficiency is one of the most immediate aspects on which the whole world needs to work. This study seeks to explain the contribution of technology to support energy-efficient tools for constructing sustainable cities. This study represents dimensions of sustainable development and convergence of energy efficient technology enabling advanced levels of sustainable development along with the challenges and key policy recommendations to achieve Goal 11.

In 2015, the United Nations launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals—efforts that should be taken to ensure the wellbeing of people and the planet by 2030. One of these goals aims to make cities sustainable by addressing environmental, social, and economic impacts to ensure cities are livable for future generations. This goal is important because more than half the world lives in cities now. Meeting the needs of many people in cities will not be easy, particularly with global problems like the hot temperatures experienced in cities, pollution, climate change, and food shortages. This is where urban greenery could help. Urban greenery includes the trees, parks, and other plants you see in cities. Greenery can help make our cities sustainable, providing benefits like cleaning the air, cooling the city in hot summer temperatures, and preventing flooding during heavy rains. Greener cities could make life better and healthier for everyone.