SDG11: Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient, and Sustainable

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are at the heart of the Agenda, Objective 11 is pivotal in addressing the rapidly changing dynamics of urbanization. This objective is dedicated to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It encompasses a broad spectrum of targets aimed at improving urban living conditions and ensuring sustainable urban development. Let’s delve into the various facets of Objective 11, understanding its targets and the implications for our future.

Access to Adequate, Safe, and Affordable Housing and Basic Services

Urbanization brings with it the challenge of providing adequate housing to all citizens. By 2030, one of the primary goals is to ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services. This also involves upgrading slums where living conditions are often substandard, characterized by inadequate infrastructure and services.

In many parts of the world, urban areas are expanding at a pace that surpasses the provision of housing and infrastructure. Slum dwellers, often living in makeshift housing with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and other basic services, are especially vulnerable. Addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach including policy interventions, financial investments, and community engagement. Governments need to prioritize housing policies that cater to low-income families, providing subsidies, and incentivizing the construction of affordable housing units.

Safe, Affordable, Accessible, and Sustainable Transport Systems

Transport systems form the backbone of urban life, facilitating the movement of people and goods. By 2030, the goal is to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all, with special attention to the needs of vulnerable populations including women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

Improving public transportation is key to achieving this target. Efficient public transport can reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and provide a reliable means of transportation for those who cannot afford private vehicles. Safety on roads is another critical aspect, necessitating improved infrastructure, stricter traffic regulations, and enhanced enforcement mechanisms. Cities need to adopt inclusive designs, ensuring that transport facilities cater to the needs of all users, including those with mobility impairments.

Inclusive and Sustainable Urbanization

As cities grow, so does the need for inclusive and sustainable urban planning. By 2030, enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries is imperative.

Urban planning must be forward-thinking, considering future population growth and environmental challenges. It should involve the participation of a wide range of stakeholders, including local communities, ensuring that their voices are heard in the decision-making process. Integrated planning means that urban development is coordinated across various sectors such as housing, transportation, and public services, creating a cohesive and sustainable urban environment.

Protecting Cultural and Natural Heritage

Urban areas often encompass significant cultural and natural heritage sites. Strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage is crucial.

Preserving heritage sites not only maintains cultural identity but also supports tourism and local economies. It requires careful planning and investment in conservation projects. Governments, in collaboration with international organizations, need to establish frameworks for the protection of heritage sites, ensuring that urban development does not come at the expense of cultural and natural assets.

Reducing Disaster Risks

Natural disasters pose a significant threat to urban areas, often resulting in loss of life, injuries, and economic damage. By 2030, the aim is to significantly reduce the number of deaths and 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.

Disaster risk reduction involves enhancing early warning systems, improving infrastructure resilience, and ensuring effective disaster response strategies. Urban planning should incorporate disaster risk assessments, particularly in vulnerable areas. Building codes and standards need to be stringent, ensuring that constructions can withstand natural disasters.

Reducing Environmental Impact

Urban areas are major contributors to environmental degradation, producing significant amounts of waste and pollution. By 2030, reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management, is critical.

Efficient waste management systems are essential to minimize the environmental footprint of cities. Recycling, waste-to-energy technologies, and composting are some methods to manage urban waste effectively. Improving air quality involves reducing emissions from industrial activities, promoting the use of clean energy, and enhancing green spaces which act as natural air purifiers.

Providing Universal Access to Green and Public Spaces

Green and public spaces play a vital role in enhancing the quality of urban life. By 2030, providing universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public spaces, particularly for women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities, is a priority.

Parks, playgrounds, and public squares offer places for recreation, social interaction, and relaxation. They also contribute to mental and physical well-being. Urban planning should prioritize the creation and maintenance of these spaces, ensuring they are safe and accessible to all members of the community.

Fostering Positive Economic, Social, and Environmental Links

The interconnection between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas is crucial for balanced regional development. Supporting positive economic, social, and environmental links between these areas by strengthening national and regional development planning is essential.

Urban areas rely on rural regions for resources such as food, water, and labor. Conversely, urban areas can provide markets for rural products and opportunities for rural inhabitants. Strengthening these linkages involves coordinated planning and investment in infrastructure that connects urban and rural areas, fostering sustainable regional development.

Implementing Integrated Policies for Inclusion and Resilience

By 2020, a considerable increase in 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 developing holistic disaster risk management at all levels, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, is imperative.

Integrated policies ensure that urban development is inclusive, efficient, and resilient. This involves cross-sectoral collaboration, bringing together stakeholders from different fields to create comprehensive urban development plans. Climate change mitigation and adaptation should be at the forefront of these policies, ensuring that cities can withstand and recover from climate-related impacts.

Supporting Sustainable and Resilient Building in Developing Countries

Lastly, supporting the least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials is crucial for sustainable urban development.

Developing countries often lack the resources and technology to construct sustainable buildings. International cooperation and support can provide these countries with the necessary tools and knowledge to build resilient structures using locally available materials. This not only promotes sustainability but also boosts local economies by utilizing indigenous resources.

Objective 11 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is comprehensive and ambitious, addressing various aspects of urban life and aiming to create cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Achieving this objective requires coordinated efforts from governments, international organizations, the private sector, and local communities. By focusing on inclusive housing, sustainable transport, disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, we can build urban areas that not only cater to the needs of their current inhabitants but also provide a sustainable future for generations to come.