(Image: Skogskyrkogården, Stockholm, Sweden of Johannes W / unsplash licensed under CC0 1.0)
Urbanization, the global trend that has become a positive transformative force for every aspect of sustainable development. As cities continue to bear 60% of the world's inhabitants, it is crucial that urban development is properly planned, governed, and sufficient enough to provide services to citizens. Urbanization promotes economic prosperity, job opportunities, and economic and socially equitable growth. While it is important to prioritize sustainable development, an aspect that is commonly overlooked is the reduction of inequality. Huge attention surrounds the growing wealth inequality in many countries, creating challenges such as segregation and socioeconomic inequality.
The nation of Sweden and a band of other countries have joined forces to promote the global 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Though Sweden prides itself on being a leader in the implementation of the 2030 SDG Agenda, they are challenged to overcome the discrimination and inequalities that are prominent in urban settings. These settings have become hubs for immigrants who are refugees from conflict zones, for work opportunities and better life chances, or from rural areas to urban areas within their own country (The Segregated City). For these migrants, the determinants of quality of life involve securing housing and a stable income. Yet, housing and access to new opportunities are insufficient. Why?
Larger cities are typically wealthy but are more unequal than rural areas, this entails a lack of affordable housing for migrants. Systematically shaping and structuring the socioeconomic insecurity areas of dimension, migrants are subjected to racial/ethnic segregation patterns and processes (Andersson, 2014). Concentrated segregation and poverty factors can be deduced from the analysis of housing policies that enforce spatial mismatch, selective migration and neighborhood dynamics, white flight and avoidance, discrimination in housing and work, and other contextual effects (Andersson, 2014).
Like most European countries, Sweden points at the difficulties that arise when implementing anti-segregation measures. These measures include area-based urban programming with the objective to improve the housing market and infrastructure, to encourage local employment opportunities, and put extra resources in cultural facilities (Furman). Programs like Moving the Opportunity (MTO) are met with resistance as native Europeans are defensive and polarized by the thought of integration. In other words, the implementation of socioeconomic equity threatens their livelihood as other social groups pursue upward mobility.
Addressing this issue has become a priority for European countries like Sweden. They recognize that policy reform provides the solution to segregation and inequalities. Scholars suggest that integrating affordable housing, redistribution of taxes and resources, and economic opportunities interests of socially vulnerable people will promote desegregation. Crossing this concern over to climate change includes looking at the effects of poverty and homelessness impact our environments.
References:
Andersson, R. (Sept. 2014). Reflection on Segregation and Integration: A Swedish Perspective. The Dream Revisited. NYU Forman Center. Retrieved on Nov. 1 from: https://furmancenter.org/research/iri/essay/reflection-on-segregation-and-integration-a-swedish-perspective
Tunström, M., and Wang, S. (2019). The segregated city: A Nordic overview. Nordic Council of Ministers. ISBN 978-92-893-6056-2 (PDF)
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