SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Rethinking Urban Living

Jun 10, 2025 6:51:50 AM | UN SDGs SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Rethinking Urban Living

Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11)—Sustainable Cities and Communities—focuses on making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. With over 56% of the world’s population living in urban areas—and projected to rise to 70% by 2050—urban development is central to sustainable progress (UN-Habitat, 2023).

Urban Inequities

Rapid urbanisation has led to the expansion of informal settlements, traffic congestion, air pollution, and housing shortages. Inadequate infrastructure limits access to education, healthcare, and employment.

Rethinking Urban Design

Achieving SDG 11 requires integrating green spaces, affordable housing, clean transport, and disaster-resilient infrastructure into city planning. Inclusive policies must prioritise vulnerable urban populations and climate risk