SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities

11 SDG 11 - Sustainable cities and communities

Make Cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Our planet becomes more urbanized: in 2007, more than half the world’s population has been living in cities, and that share is projected to rise to 60% by 2030. Yet 1 of 4 urban residents live in slum like conditions, 9 out of 10 breathe polluted air. The quality of living depends to a great extent of by the sustainable development of cities and local communities.

To this end, the 2030 Agenda acknowledges the fact that good governing, integrated management and urban development are useful work instruments for the elaboration and implementation of local strategies and policies to generate well-being for citizens.

Cities occupy just 3% of the Earth’s land, but account for 60-80% of energy consumption and 70% of carbon emissions. Many cities are also more vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters due to their high density of people. Organic growth of cities in sprawling suburbs can generate pollution through greenhouses gases. Sustainable urban practices include participatory planning, safe and efficient public transport, safe and affordable housing, green public spaces, good air quality and attentive waste management. Inclusion of women, children, older persons and disabled when designing cities help attaining SDG 11.

In Italy

In the cities, according to the ASviS 2018 Report, despite of the critical issues related to public transport and illegal housing, since 2016 there are signs of growth thanks to the improvement of housing conditions and waste management. Some steps forward have been done in legislation, like for example the approval of the final report on the conditions of degradation and security of the cities and their suburbs by the Chamber of Deputies Inquiry Commission, or the approval of Law No. 2 of the 2018 on the promotion of the use of the bicycle as a means of transport, or the signing of a new program agreement between the Ministry of the Environment and the regions of the Po Valley to overcome the smog emergency. However, the measures adopted are still insufficient to meet the different needs of cities, starting from the urban agenda for sustainable development, including important indicators such as the reduction of land consumption, the increase in air quality controls and the protection of green areas.


Find out more about SDG 11

Projects