European Sustainable Development Week Events on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Out of the over 4,400 events that will be taking place all over Europe during the ESDW 2019, 1,845 events currently address SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, which seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Out of the over 4,400 events that will be taking place all over Europe during the ESDW 2019, 1,845 events currently address SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, which seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

SDG 11 aims to:

  1. By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slum.
  2. 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 person.
  3. By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.
  4. Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritag.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.

Progress being made towards achieving SDG 11

  • Many cities around the world are facing acute challenges in managing rapid urbanization— from ensuring adequate housing and infrastructure to support growing populations, to confronting the environmental impact of urban sprawl, to reducing vulnerability to disasters.
    • Between 2000 and 2014, the proportion of the global urban population living in slums dropped from 28.4 per cent to 22.8 per cent. However, the actual number of people living in slums increased from 807 million to 883 million.
    • Based on data collected for 214 cities/municipalities, about three quarters of municipal solid waste generated is collected.
    • In 2016, 91 per cent of the urban population worldwide were breathing air that did not meet the World Health Organization air quality guidelines value for particulate matter (PM 2.5); more than half were exposed to air pollution levels at least 2.5 times higher than that safety standard. In 2016, an estimated 4.2 million people died as a result of high levels of ambient air pollution.
    • From 1990 to 2013, almost 90 per cent of deaths attributed to internationally reported disasters occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Reported damage to housing attributed to disasters shows a statistically significant rise from 1990 onwards.

To find out  more about the ESDW Events dealing with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, please visit the Activities section on the ESDW website.

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