Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Why it matters: More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. By 2050, that figure will have risen to 6.5 billion people – two-thirds of all humanity. Despite these high figures, 828 million people live in urban slums, and the number is rising on a daily basis. As such, extreme poverty is concentrated in these urban spaces making upgrading access to safe and affordable housing, and upgrading slum settlements a must for humanity.

Target 11.1: Safe and affordable housing

By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

Target 11.2: affordable and sustainable transport systems

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.

Target 11.3: Inclusive and sustainable urbanization

By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

Target 11.4: Protect the world's cultural and natural heritage

Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

Target 11.5: Reduce the adverse effects of natural disaters

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.

Target 11.6: Reduce the environmental impact of cities

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.

Target 11.7: Provide access to safe and inclusive green and public spaces

By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

Target 11A: Strong national and regional development planning

Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

Target 11B: Implement policies for inclusion, resource efficiency and disaster risk reduction

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.

Target 11C: Support least developed countries in sustainable and resilent building

Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilising local materials.