Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) is to: “Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. The quality of life in urban areas is directly proportional to the way cities draw on and use the natural resources available. Today, due to their high population density, cities are at risk of being particularly vulnerable to both climate change and natural disasters. To avoid serious human and economic losses, it is necessary to improve the sustainability of urbanization processes which are directly linked to nature and the environment. Cities and metropolitan areas are powerhouses of economic growth contributing about 60 per cent of global GDP. However, they also account for about 70 per cent of global carbon emissions and over 60 per cent of resource use.
Most of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals focus on the future and well-being of the earth’s residents, but SDG 11 in particular focuses on the design and transformation of urban areas: cities, in fact, are considered like laboratories of innovation and socio-ecological change. The world population in the future will be concentrated in cities that will inevitably become larger and larger. Greater challenges will be faced to ensure healthier and smarter urbanization: important fresh water supplies and new sewage networks will be surely needed.
The targets of SDG 11 include investment in public transport, the expansion and improvement of public and green spaces (parks), improving urban planning, and greater protection of the natural and cultural heritage of urban areas themselves. The achievement of all these important goals is possible only through the adoption of ad hoc urban and territorial planning that also includes design and implementation of systems and engineering works capable of protecting cities from extreme weather events and flooding for example.
- Half of humanity – 3.5 billion people – lives in cities today and 5 billion people are projected to live in cities by 2030.
- By 2050 70 per cent of the world population is predicted to live in urban settlements.
- Cities account for between 60 and 80 per cent of energy consumption and generate as much as 70 per cent of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Rapid urbanization is exerting pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage, the living environment, and public health.
- The world’s cities occupy just 3 per cent of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80 per cent of energy consumption and 75 per cent of carbon emissions.
- 95 per cent of urban expansion in the next decades will take place in developing world.
- In the future, important supplies of fresh water and the construction of new sewage networks will be needed in the fast-growing urban areas.
Target 11.1 Safe and affordable housing
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
Target 11.2 Affordable and sustainable transport systems
By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons.
Target 11.3 Inclusive and sustainable urbanization
By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
Target 11.4 Protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Target 11.5 Reduce the adverse effects of natural disasters
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
Target 11.6 Reduce the environmental impact of cities
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
Target 11.7 Provide access to safe and inclusive green and public spaces
By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
Target 11.A Strong national and regional development planning
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
Target 11.B Implement policies for inclusion, resource efficiency and disaster risk reduction
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels.
Target 11.C Support least developed countries in sustainable and resilient building
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.
Challenge: the rapid and often unplanned urbanization witnessed worldwide has led to increased pressure on the environment;
Solution: promote sound urban planning, sustainable building, low-carbon transports, green spaces and sustainable lifestyles.
Challenge: our cities account for up to 80% of energy consumption as well as 75% of global waste and carbon emissions;
Solution: invest in renewable energy, waste management, sustainable and green infrastructures.
Challenge: due to the high concentration of people, infrastructures, housing and economic activities, cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters;
Solution: protect cities – which are important social, cultural and economic centres – from environmental and climate threats.
What can we do to help achieving SDG 11? Actively participate in all initiatives related to the development and improvement of our city: let’s imagine our ideal city and develop these images into concrete projects: how can the building we live in, our streets and neighborhoods, be improved? Are there enough businesses and stores in our city? Are our children’s schools close to our homes? Are schools, hospitals, shopping centers, sports facilities and parks easily accessible and served by efficient public transportation? How is the air quality in our city? Is the city safe at night? Let’s try to answer these types of questions and keep in mind that our quality of life improves if the conditions we create in our city meet our needs.
What can I do?
- …if possible, use more my bicycle or public transport.
- …choose and vote for those political representatives who promote the promotion and sustainable development of my city.
- …support local initiatives that address integration and sustainability and offer some volunteerism.
