GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Cities occupy only three per cent of the world’s surface but consume three quarters of global resources and are responsible for 75 per cent of global emissions. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities, with an expected increase to up to 70% by 2050. Cities are key drivers of local and national economies and hubs of prosperity. Goal 11 aims to reduce the per capita environmental impact of cities. Make urban development more inclusive and sustainable, including through participatory, integrated, and sustainable settlement planning. It also aims to ensure universal access to safe and inclusive green spaces and public spaces, especially for women and children, older people, and people with disabilities. Likewise, access to safe and affordable housing and transport systems should be ensured.
What is to be achieved?
- By 2030, ensure access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services for all and sanitise slums.
- By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all and improve road safety, in particular by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of people in vulnerable situations, women, children, people with disabilities and older people.
- By 2030, make urbanisation more inclusive and sustainable and strengthen capacities for participatory, integrated, and sustainable settlement planning and management in all countries.
- Strengthen efforts to protect and preserve the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
- By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters, and substantially reduce the direct economic losses they cause in relation to global gross domestic product, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
- By 2030, reduce the per capita environmental impact of cities, including with special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste treatment.
- By 2030, ensure universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green spaces and public spaces, especially for women and children, older people and people with disabilities.
How is the goal to be achieved?
- Support positive economic, social, and environmental linkages between urban, peri-urban and rural areas through enhanced national and regional development planning.
- By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans to promote inclusion, resource efficiency, climate change mitigation, climate adaptation and disaster resilience, and develop and implement holistic disaster risk management at all levels in accordance with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
- Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in the construction of sustainable and resilient buildings using indigenous materials.
