Sustainable Development Goal 11

Sustainable Development Goal 11
Name	Sustainable Development Goal 11
Original language	English
Adopted	2015
Parent	Sustainable Development Goals
Target number	11

Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. The goal builds on commitments made at the United Nations General Assembly, the Rio+20 Conference, and the New Urban Agenda, and aligns with instruments such as the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. It guides work by actors including the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Commission, and national bodies such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (India) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (United States).

Overview

SDG 11 focuses on urbanization and aims to address challenges in cities noted by organizations like UN-Habitat, UNESCO, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The goal frames policy in relation to instruments such as the New Urban Agenda, the Habitat III outcome, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Sendai Framework, and is monitored through reporting mechanisms coordinated by the United Nations Statistical Commission and regional entities like the African Union and the European Union. Urban stakeholders such as the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, United Cities and Local Governments, and networks including Metropolis operationalize the goal alongside cities such as New York City, Shanghai, Lagos, Mumbai, and Cairo.

Targets and Indicators

Targets under SDG 11 include ensuring access to adequate, safe and affordable housing, sustainable transport systems, inclusive urbanization, and safeguarding cultural and natural heritage; these align with indicators tracked by the United Nations Statistics Division and datasets compiled by the World Bank Open Data, UNdata, and the Global Urban Observatory. Specific targets reference housing policies like those of Singapore Housing and Development Board, land-use frameworks exemplified by Curitiba's urban planning, public transport systems such as the London Underground, Tokyo Metro, and the Bogotá TransMilenio, and disaster-resilience measures drawn from Tokyo Metropolitan Government experiences and Christchurch recovery programs. Indicator methodologies draw on standards from the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators, capacity-building by UN-Habitat, and technical guidance from the International Organization for Standardization and the World Resources Institute.

Implementation and Global Progress

Implementation has involved multilateral financing from institutions such as the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and bilateral donors including USAID and the UK Department for International Development. Progress reports by the United Nations and assessments by the International Institute for Environment and Development and the Brookings Institution highlight advances in cities like Seoul, Singapore, Barcelona, Vancouver, and Kigali through interventions in public transport, green spaces, and slum upgrading drawn from programs like Favela-Bairro and Kibera slum upgrading. Monitoring mechanisms leverage national statistics offices such as the Office for National Statistics (UK), the National Bureau of Statistics (China), and the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística alongside platforms run by UN-Habitat and Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments.

Challenges and Criticisms

Critics including researchers at Oxford University, Harvard University, London School of Economics, and NGOs like Slum Dwellers International and Transparency International point to challenges in financing, governance, and data quality. Debates reference case disputes such as land conflicts in Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro, displacement controversies tied to mega-events like the 2016 Summer Olympics and the Beijing Olympics, and infrastructure risks illustrated by floods in New Orleans and Jakarta. Scholars cite shortcomings in integration with frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework, inequities documented by Oxfam and Habitat for Humanity, and measurement gaps noted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Regional and Country-Level Approaches

Regional strategies vary: the European Commission and Council of Europe emphasize compact city policies and heritage conservation in places like Rome, Athens, and Lisbon; the African Union and African Development Bank prioritize informal settlement upgrading in cities such as Nairobi, Lagos, and Accra; the Asian Development Bank and ASEAN focus on resilient infrastructure in Jakarta, Dhaka, and Manila; while the Organization of American States and Inter-American Development Bank work with capitals like Brasília, Buenos Aires, and Mexico City on mass transit and social housing. National programs referenced include Brazil's Minha Casa Minha Vida, China's urbanization plan, South Africa's Reconstruction and Development Programme, and India's Smart Cities Mission, coordinated with ministries like the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (India), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (China), and agencies such as Habitat for Humanity country offices.

Case Studies and Best Practices

Notable case studies include Curitiba's bus rapid transit model informing projects like Río de Janeiro's BRT and Ahmedabad's BRT, Singapore's public housing model compared with Vienna's municipal housing; Seoul's Cheonggyecheon restoration compared with Paris's riverfront planning and New York City's High Line; Kigali's sanitation and urban management programs contrasted with Medellín's integrated transport and social urbanism initiatives carried out with partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank. Best practices cited by UN-Habitat, Cities Alliance, C40, and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy include integrated land-use policy seen in Copenhagen, participatory slum upgrading like Bangkok's community projects, climate adaptation measures from Rotterdam and Venice, and heritage-led regeneration in Florence and Istanbul.

Category:Sustainable development goals