How can we pursue SDG11?
Businesses can help cities navigate these challenges and turn a high-level vision into practical and implementable action plans. Businesses can play a vital role in providing specific infrastructure, technology, services, and financing solutions and contributing to the strategy that will support the overall optimisation of urban systems to create inclusive, safe, sustainable and disaster-resilient cities.
Depending on an organisation's role and capabilities there are various actions that can be made that will make a real difference.
- Investing in parks, pedestrians and green spaces will improve air quality and enhance people's mental and physical well-being.
- Plant more trees. Trees provide a cooling effect in the Summer, improve air quality, reduce flooding risk and enhance the environment for citizens.
- Improve the sustainability of buildings and infrastructures to reduce energy consumption and improve living environments.
- Invest in research, development and deployment of products and services to support the building of safe, resilient and sustainable cities.
- Protect and invest in cultural and natural heritage projects.
- Provide access to essential services such as education, housing and healthcare.
- Reform private sector finance investment strategies to support integrated and sustainable urban development like sustainable urban transport, low-carbon buildings, and resilient infrastructure.
- Develop and encourage the use of transport systems, such as public transport or human-powered forms of transport e.g. walking, running and cycling.
- Reduce and manage food waste.
- Enable urban populations to influence urban planning.
Overview
There is a strong link between the quality of life in cities and how cities draw on and manage the natural resources available. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities and this is likely to increase significantly in future decades. The continuous growth presents multifaceted challenges as we try to shape our future cities.
Sustainable cities are designed with consideration for social, economic and environmental impact without compromising the ability of future generations to experience the same.
Building urban resilience is crucial to avoiding human, social and economic losses while improving the sustainability of urbanisation, protecting the environment and mitigating disaster risk and climate change.
Sustainable cities are designed with consideration for social, economic and environmental impact without compromising the ability of future generations to experience the same.
Building urban resilience is crucial to avoiding human, social and economic losses while improving the sustainability of urbanisation, protecting the environment and mitigating disaster risk and climate change.
SDG11 aims to "Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".
It has associated aims that include:
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Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
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Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport.
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Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
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Significantly reduce the number of deaths caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
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Reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and waste management schemes.
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Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
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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, and resilience to disasters.