SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

As our cities keep growing at a rapid pace, the push for sustainable urban living is more urgent than ever. Enter SDG 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities.” This goal is all about making our cities and towns inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030. It tackles the diverse challenges that come with urban life — think housing, transportation, infrastructure, and the environment. With over half of the world’s population now living in cities, and that number expected to hit two-thirds by 2050, creating sustainable urban environments is key to achieving the broader Sustainable Development Goals.

Sustainable Cities and Communities Targets

SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities encompasses 10 targets and 15 indicators that provide a comprehensive approach to sustainable urbanization. These targets aim to address a wide range of issues from housing affordability to urban resilience and sustainable transportation.

Target 11.1: Safe and Affordable Housing
The goal here is to ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services by 2030. Think of it as tackling the issue of slums and informal settlements, where millions live in poor conditions. The indicators track the proportion of the urban population living in these precarious situations. The aim is to reduce this number significantly, ensuring everyone has a roof over their head that doesn’t leak, crumble, or lack basic amenities.

Target 11.2: Affordable and Sustainable Transport Systems
Public transport can be a game-changer for cities, making them more inclusive and sustainable. By 2030, SDG 11 aims to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport. The indicators look at the proportion of the population that has convenient access to public transport, which helps cut down on pollution and makes cities more livable.

Target 11.3: Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization
Urbanization isn’t just about growing cities; it’s about making them better places to live. This target focuses on enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning. The indicators here measure the ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate and the proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning.

Target 11.4: Protect the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage
Cultural and natural heritage sites are treasures that enrich cities and should be preserved for future generations. This target aims to strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Indicators track the expenditure on preserving cultural and natural heritage, ensuring that cities maintain their unique identities and historical significance.

Target 11.5: Reduce the Adverse Effects of Natural Disasters
Natural disasters can devastate cities, so this target aims to significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected, and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global GDP caused by disasters. The indicators measure the number of people affected and the direct economic loss due to disasters, focusing on protecting the most vulnerable urban populations.

Target 11.6: Reduce the Environmental Impact of Cities
Urban areas are often major polluters, so this target aims to reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The indicators monitor the levels of urban solid waste collection and the annual mean levels of fine particulate matter in cities, striving for cleaner, healthier urban environments.

Target 11.7: Provide Access to Safe and Inclusive Green and Public Spaces
Green spaces are vital for the health and well-being of urban dwellers. By 2030, the goal is to provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. Indicators look at the proportion of the population that has convenient access to these spaces, promoting mental and physical health and community cohesion.

Target 11.a: Strong National and Regional Development Planning
This target emphasizes the importance of positive economic, social, and environmental links between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. The indicators measure the number of countries with policies that enhance urban, peri-urban, and rural connectivity, ensuring balanced development and reducing urban-rural disparities.

Target 11.b: Implement Policies for Inclusion, Resource Efficiency, and Disaster Risk Reduction
To achieve sustainable urban development, cities need robust policies. This target aims to increase the number of cities adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and developing and implementing holistic disaster risk management. Indicators track the adoption of these policies and the proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies.

Target 11.c: Support Least Developed Countries in Building Sustainable and Resilient Buildings
Lastly, this target focuses on supporting the least developed countries in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials. It emphasizes the need for financial and technical assistance to make this happen. The indicators measure the proportion of financial support to these countries for sustainable and resilient building projects, helping them develop more sustainably.

Measuring Progress

Monitoring progress towards SDG 11 involves a detailed assessment of the indicators linked to each target. These indicators provide quantifiable metrics that help track advancements and identify areas needing improvement.

• Housing Affordability (11.1): This is measured by the proportion of the urban population living in slums or inadequate housing. Data collection typically involves housing censuses and surveys.
• Public Transport Access (11.2): This is assessed by the proportion of the population with convenient access to public transport, disaggregated by sex, age, and disability status. Geographic information systems (GIS) and transport surveys are commonly used for this purpose.
• Urban Planning (11.3): The ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate and the extent of civil society participation in urban planning are key metrics. This requires data on land use changes and community engagement practices.
• Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection (11.4): Expenditures on heritage preservation are tracked through budget analysis and financial reports from public and private entities.
• Disaster Impact (11.5): Indicators include the number of deaths and economic losses due to disasters, which are monitored through disaster management agencies and statistical offices.
• Environmental Impact (11.6): Urban waste management efficiency and air quality levels are critical indicators. Environmental agencies and waste management authorities provide the necessary data.
• Green Spaces (11.7): The availability and accessibility of public spaces are measured through spatial analysis and community surveys.
• Urban-Rural Links (11.a): The implementation of integrated urban and regional development plans is monitored by reviewing policy documents and development plans.
• Disaster Risk Reduction Policies (11.b): The adoption of disaster risk reduction strategies by local governments is tracked through policy reviews and implementation reports.
• Support for Least Developed Countries (11.c): Financial support for sustainable building practices is assessed through aid and development finance records.

Progress So Far

Inclusive Urbanization

Making sure urban development benefits everyone, especially the most vulnerable, is crucial. This means addressing the needs of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities to ensure no one is left behind in our rapidly growing cities.

Climate Change

Cities must take the lead in fighting climate change. This involves cutting down greenhouse gas emissions, boosting energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices in construction and transportation. Urban areas have a huge role to play in creating a greener future.

Technological Innovation

Using technology like smart city solutions can revolutionize urban living. These innovations can improve city management, enhance service delivery, and make resource use more efficient, making cities smarter and more livable.

Financing and Investment

Achieving SDG 11 isn’t cheap — it requires significant financial investments. Mobilizing resources through public-private partnerships, international aid, and innovative financing methods is essential to fund sustainable urban development.

Policy Coherence

Aligning urban policies with national and global sustainability agendas ensures all efforts are cohesive and reinforce each other. Integrating these policies helps create a unified approach to achieving our sustainability goals.

Conclusion

Sustainable Cities and Communities,” is all about creating urban spaces that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. We’ve seen some great strides in different areas, but there are still big challenges to tackle — like housing shortages, improving public transport, managing environmental impacts, and boosting disaster resilience. Getting this goal done by 2030 will need coordinated efforts, hefty investments, and a solid commitment to inclusive and sustainable urban growth. By honing in on these crucial areas, cities can become powerhouses of sustainable development and vastly enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives in them

Roberto Reiner is CEO and Co-Founder of Restore, an impact measurement and management tech company. Restore is on a mission to safeguard nature and empower communities with verifiable and transparent data envisioning a world in which nature thrives and communities prosper. Follow Restore’s journey to restore the earth here, across all social channels and our home Restore.tech