SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Georgian National University – SEU

g.gavtadze@seu.edu.ge

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

General overview

This chapter’s primary objective is to compile, organize, structure, and convey a wealth of information regarding UN Sustainable Development Goal #11 in a way that is easy for students to understand. Reviewing Goal 11’s objectives and indicators, as well as their needs, importance, and implementation status assessments for the years 2016–2024, received more emphasis. The chapter concludes with a quick overview that highlights the key findings and suggestions. During the work on the chapter, supporting educational material, reports of the UN Secretary-General, analytical materials of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and statistical information of international organizations were mainly used. To avoid any ambiguity, the texts given in the mentioned sources are presented with only minor changes, which eliminates the possibility of interpretation of the information and increases its reliability.

By reading this chapter, you will learn:

What key targets and indicators does Goal #11 include;
What progress has been made in achieving Goal 11 and what is the current status;
What does Sustainable cities and communities mean;
What is the state of sustainable development, urbanization, mega-policies and etc.;
What are the main challenges we face in achieving the key results of Goal 11.

Key terms and definitions:

Megalopolis – a very large city, defined by the UN as a city or urban agglomeration with a population of more than 10 million. There are currently 37 megalopolises in the world, such as Tokyo, New York, Paris, Berlin, and Bangkok. A megalopolis can be a single metropolitan area or two or more metropolitan areas that merge into one.
Sustainable development – an approach to social, economic, and environmental planning that attempts to balance the social and economic needs of present and future human generations with the imperative of preserving, or preventing undue damage to, the natural environment.
The rate of urbanization refers to the average annual percentage change in the urban population share. In simpler terms, it measures how quickly the proportion of a population living in urban areas is growing over time. It’s crucial to understand that this rate isn’t just about the raw increase in the number of city dwellers, but rather the pace at which the balance is shifting from rural to urban living. This metric provides invaluable insights into population dynamics, economic shifts, and the social transformations occurring globally.
Urban development strategy refers to a comprehensive framework that guides the growth and transformation of urban areas. It encompasses a wide range of activities, policies, and plans aimed at improving the quality of life for residents while ensuring sustainable economic growth.
Urban systems refer to the interconnected elements that make up a city or metropolitan area, including physical infrastructure, social networks, economic activities, and governance structures.
Urban sprawl refers to the rapid expansion of cities and towns, often characterized by low-density residential housing and increased reliance on automobiles for transportation. It describes a pattern of development that stretches away from urban centers, typically resulting in poorly planned growth and a lack of efficient public transport options.

Introduction

The development of Goal 11, “Sustainable Cities and Communities,” was driven by the rapid pace of urbanization worldwide. Cities are considered the main centers of ideas, commerce, culture, science, and social development, enabling people to advance socially and economically.

It is estimated that by 2030, the number of city dwellers will reach 5 billion, and by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, significantly increasing the role of cities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, it is important to develop cities and overcome existing challenges such as overcrowding, infrastructure, environmental and air pollution, and transport.

Effective urban planning and management are essential to address the issues related to urbanization. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without a significant transformation in the way we build and manage our urban spaces.

It is worth noting that the private sector has a particularly important role to play in addressing contemporary challenges, working with governments, the non-governmental sector and other stakeholders. Companies can contribute to the sustainable development of cities by developing infrastructure, managing waste, developing technologies and basic services, and financing innovation. In addition, companies can participate in the development of urban development strategies and, in general, in optimizing urban systems in cities. Creating jobs in cities and sustaining economic growth without overusing natural resources is a significant challenge.

In addition to the above, common problems related to cities include the following:

Rapidly growing urbanization challenges such as safe removal and management of solid waste in cities may be overcome to enable cities to grow and develop in parallel with the improvement of resources, reducing contamination and overcoming poverty. One of these examples is the increase in municipal waste collection. There is a need for a future in which cities will be able to provide all basic services, energy, residence, transport, etc.

The rapid growth of cities – a result of rising populations and increasing migration – has led to a boom in mega-cities, especially in the developing world, and slums are becoming a more significant feature of urban life.

Making cities sustainable means creating career and business opportunities, safe and affordable housing, and building resilient societies and economies. It involves investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management in participatory and inclusive ways.

The main features of SDG 11

The importance of Sustainable Development Goal 11 is due to the current situation in the world, which is related to urban development. Among them:

Rapid Urbanization:
The world is becoming increasingly urbanized, with a significant proportion of the population living in cities.
Environmental Impact:
Cities are significant drivers of environmental change, contributing to pollution, climate change, and resource depletion.
Social Equity:
Cities can be a source of both opportunity and inequality, with some residents facing challenges like poverty, lack of access to services, and vulnerability to disasters.
Economic Growth:
Cities are important hubs of economic activity, and sustainable urban development can contribute to economic growth and job creation.

SDG 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It recognizes the growing importance of urban areas and seeks to address challenges like rapid urbanization, slums, and environmental impacts. (The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2016: 8)

It focuses on the:

Ensuring access to safe and affordable housing,
Improving urban planning,
Reducing environmental impact, promoting accessible green spaces, and
Promoting resilience to natural disasters.

It supports:

Sustainable urbanization that improves the quality of life for all city residents.

Key aspects of SDG 11 include:

Inclusive and Safe Cities

Ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, transportation, and public spaces for all residents, including vulnerable groups like women, children, people with disabilities, and older persons.

Resilient Cities

Strengthening disaster risk reduction, promoting sustainable urban planning, and addressing the impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat and flooding.

Gender Equality in the Workplace

Reducing the environmental footprint of cities by improving air quality, waste management, and promoting sustainable transportation and infrastructure.

Economic and Social Development

Supporting urban development that promotes economic growth, social equity, and positive links between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.

Growing numbers of slum people, rising air pollution, a lack of basic services and infrastructure, and unplanned urban sprawl are just a few of the numerous problems brought on by rapid urbanization, which also increases a city’s susceptibility to natural disasters. However, with good urban planning and administration, metropolitan areas around the world may become vibrant centers of innovation and business as well as inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The formation of the main targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goal 11, which fully reflects the current situation in the modern world, has significantly considered various types of statistics, which is given on the chart.

In 2018, 4.2 billion people, 55% of the world’s population, lived in cities. by 2050, the urban population is expected to reach 6.5 billion

Cities occupy just 3% of the Earth’s land, but account for 60 to 80% of energy consumption and at leaset 70% of carbon emissions.

828 mln people are estimated to live in slums and the number is rising.

In 1990, there were 10 cities with 10 mln people or more. By 2014, the number of mega-cities rose to 28 and was expected to reach 33 by 2018. In the future, 9 out of 10 mega-cities will be in the developing world.

In the comming decades, 90% of urban expansion will be in the developing world.

The economic role of the cities is significant. They generate about 80% of the global GDP.

In view of the above, the main initiatives of this goal are:

Housing affordability.
Infrastructure investments.
Sustainable transport.
Access to public spaces.
Sustainable buildings.

Based on the discussions in the introductory section, we can move on to a more detailed discussion of Goal 11, which includes a study of its main objectives, related indicators, an analysis of the results achieved within the framework of this goal, and the current factual situation.

SDG 11 Targets and indicators:

It is divided into 7 main and 3 additional targets, which have special evaluation indicators.

#	Target	Indicator
11.1	By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums	11.1.1 Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing;
11.2	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	11.2.1 Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.3	By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries	11.3.1 Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate 11.3.2 Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically
11.4	11.4 Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage	11.4.1 Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage (cultural, natural, mixed and World Heritage Centre designation), level of government (national, regional and local/municipal), type of expenditure (operating expenditure/investment) and type of private funding (donations in kind, private non-profit sector and sponsorship)
11.5	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	11.5.1 Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population 11.5.2 Direct economic loss in relation to global GDP, damage to critical infrastructure and number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters
11.6	By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management	11.6.1 Proportion of urban solid waste regularly collected and with adequate final discharge out of total urban solid waste generated, by cities 11.6.2 Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)
11.7	11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities	11.7.1 Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities 11.7.2 Proportion of persons victim of physical or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months
11.a	Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning	11.a.1 Proportion of population living in cities that implement urban and regional development plans integrating population projections and resource needs, by size of city
11.b	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	11.b.1 Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 11.b.2 Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
11.c	Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials	11.c.1 Proportion of financial support to the least developed countries that is allocated to the construction and retrofitting of sustainable, resilient and resource efficient buildings utilizing local materials

Brief historical overview

The SDGs had to overcome a lot of global opposition once they were approved, which greatly hindered their progress. This also holds true with SDG 11. The Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, revealed severe disparity and a catastrophe in cities that required significant work and resources to resolve. In 2016, yearly tracking of the SDGs’ outcomes started. Let’s examine the key findings, data, and statistics for the years 2016–2024. In certain instances, the time leading up to a certain year will also be covered in order to clarify existing procedures.

2016 – 2019 The initial stage of implementation and monitoring of the SDG

(Reports of the Secretary-General 2017; 2018; 2019; 2020)

The inclusion of urbanization issues in the Sustainable Development Goals was driven by several problematic issues. Rapid urbanization brings enormous challenges. Among them: cities are hotspots for air pollution and disease; urgent systemic changes in urban infrastructure and planning are needed to secure and provide health, environmental and social benefits for the billions of urban dwellers globally; people living in slums, informal settlements, or inadequate housing are at an incredible disadvantage and so on.

Several international organizations are interested in similar issues and have developed special programs to address specific problems. For example, UNEP is focused on enabling sustainable urbanization and ending the increased environmental pressure associated with demand for basic services, infrastructure, jobs, affordable housing and more – particularly for the nearly 1 billion urban poor who live in informal settlements. UNEP’s work on circularity and pollution and waste aims to galvanize policy action needed for improved municipal solid waste management and emission reductions.

As mentioned, Goal 11 aims to renew and design cities and other human settlements in a way that promotes social cohesion and personal safety, while stimulating innovation and employment. The following statistical information gives some idea of the current situation at the time of approval of the SDGs:

In 2014, 880 million people lived in urban slums, or 30% of the global urban population, compared to 39% in 2000.
In many burgeoning cities around the world, populations were moving outwards, far beyond administrative boundaries.
In 2014, about half the urban population globally was exposed to air pollution levels at least 2.5 times above the standard of safety set by the World Health Organization.
As of 2015, 142 countries were developing national-level urban policies; of these, 82 countries were already in the process of implementation and 23 had reached the monitoring and evaluation stage.

Source: The sustainable development goal 2016, UN: 8-9

SDG11 applies to all societies, both the richest countries and the developing ones. Moreover, as development trends show, the growth of megacities is expected, especially in the developing world. Therefore, if we want to achieve success, all countries must include the Sustainable Development Goals in their national policies and plans.

During the process of monitoring the implementation of Goal 11, several important facts and events occurred, among which we will discuss the following:

Urban population and Urban sprawl

In 2014, 30% of the urban population in developing regions lived in conditions classified as slums. In sub-Saharan Africa, the figure was 55%. This was the highest rate of any region.

To address this challenge and increase resilience, concerted action is needed, as cities continue to attract people seeking greater opportunities and a better life.

Although the percentage of urban dwellers living in such conditions has declined over the past decade, more than 880 million people worldwide still lived in slums in 2014.

In many burgeoning cities around the world, growing populations are moving outwards, far beyond administrative boundaries. Urban sprawl is found in many regions: Eastern Asia and Oceania had the highest ratio of land consumption to population growth in the world from 2000 to 2015, developed regions were second. Only Latin America and the Caribbean and Southern and Central Asia saw a ratio of less than 1.0, meaning that cities in these regions became more densely populated.

Unplanned urban sprawl is associated with increased per capita emissions of carbon dioxide and hazardous pollution and often drives housing prices up, all of which hamper sustainable development.

Level of air pollution

Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health. Globally, ambient air pollution in both cities and rural areas is estimated to have caused 3.7 million premature deaths in 2012.

Although cities have traditionally been the focus of air pollution reduction policies, air quality in towns and rural areas should also be considered.

No region had annual average mean concentrations of particulate matter below the maximum level set by WHO of 10 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3).

In 2019, towns in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, a region with a significant proportion of the world’s population, experienced poorer air quality than cities. Tackling air pollution requires a shift in perspective, acknowledging that it is not solely an urban issue.

While urban areas continue to be important, a comprehensive approach that also considers towns and rural areas is crucial to combat air pollution effectively.

Municipal waste collection

Proper management of solid waste – through waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting, incineration or disposal in landfills – is a basic component of sustainable cities.

Source: The sustainable goals report 2017

When left uncollected or improperly managed, solid waste can end up blocking drains or festering in open dump sites, resulting in a host of unsanitary conditions. As cities and their populations expand, so do their urban waste.

According to data from cities in 101 countries from 2009 to 2013, approximately 65% of the population is served by municipal waste collection. The lowest coverage was found in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia, at around 40%. In many cities in these regions, open dumping remains a common practice.

National-level urban policies

National policies and regional development plans that consider the specific needs and characteristics of urban areas are essential to sustainable development.

Source: the sustainable development goals report 2016.pdf

As of 2015, 142 countries were developing national-level urban policies; of these, 82 countries were already in the process of implementation and 23 had reached the monitoring and evaluation stage.

Most of these urban policies can be further aligned with SDGs and can be disaggregated by key themes of the sustainability agenda. They are a way to connect national policy to local action.

The rapid growth of cities and their populations is driving a variety of issues. One of them is urban planning and urban development processes. As it turns out, a large proportion of citizens lack access to open spaces. According to 2019 data from 610 cities in 95 countries, the share of land allocated to streets and open spaces, which are critical for the productivity of cities and the social and health aspects of their residents, was only 16% on average worldwide. The share of the population that could access open public spaces within a 400-meter walk along the street network was 46.7% on average.

Streets accounted for about three times more urban land than open public spaces, such as parks and riverbanks.

At the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2019, heads of state and government reaffirmed their commitment to putting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into action. Although the world was not on schedule to reach the sustainable development targets by 2030, they noted that tremendous progress had been made in the first four years of its implementation. With all delegates committing to significantly accelerate and scale implementation activities, the Summit adopted a Decade of Action and Achievements for Sustainable Development. The situation has been significantly complicated by the pandemic and the crises, challenges and concerns that have arisen in almost every area.

2020 – 2024 The period of pandemic and post-crisis recovery

(Report of the Secretary-General 2021; 2022; 2023; 2024)

As mentioned above, rapid urbanization leads to an increase in the number of people living in slums, inadequate and overcrowded infrastructure, worsening services and air pollution, and so on.

In this case, the pandemic has made matters worse. More than 1 billion people live in slums around the world, where they face challenges such inadequate housing, insufficient running water at home, shared bathrooms, inadequate or nonexistent waste management systems, crammed public transportation, and restricted access to official medical facilities. Due to city closures, many of these individuals were at high risk of losing their jobs in the unorganized sector. Preparedness and response to outbreaks in slums and informal settlements required emergency plans.

The devastating effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on people’s lives and means of subsistence have further underscored the significance of the Sustainable Development Goals and the necessity of coordinating international efforts to attain them.

The demand for urban transportation

The quality and accessibility of transport infrastructure varies significantly between countries and regions, and even within cities. People in industrialized nations have generally had multiple modes of transportation for a few decades. But this isn’t always accessible in a way that’s fair to everyone or considerate of the environment. The need for people’s and products’ mobility is increasing rapidly each year in emerging nations, where an estimated 1 billion people still lack access to all-weather roads. Data from 2022 reveal that only 51.6% of the global urban population has convenient access to public transport, with considerable regional differences. Countries and cities, particularly in the developing world, still have a long way to go in terms of developing safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems. There is a pressing need for cities worldwide to integrate motorized transportation systems with walking and cycling through long-term sustainable urban mobility plans, targeted infrastructure investments and policy implementation.