Goal 11 sets out to make cities and communities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. With the effects of Climate Change rising in intensity and frequency each year, experts fear that are urban infrastructures will be unable to take the strain of impending natural disasters and a predicted influx of climate refugees in the very near future. However, the UN also fears international governments are leaving behind those living in rural communities, forcing many to migrate to already strained urban areas.
The UN estimates 2.6 billion people do not currently have access to electricity - more than a quarter of the world’s population. This is largely due to poor infrastructures like roads making it impossible to install the necessary equipment. A lack of access to electricity has prevented many low-income communities from opportunities to improve local economies. UNICEF notes the crucial benefits electricity could provide to improving the overall livelihood of those living in low-income rural areas including: providing light to home and hospitals; providing power to medical equipment to improve healthcare (See Goal 3); and even powering internet access and computers to receive education and certificates for employment.
The UN information document highlights the strain on cities in the future. Over 70% of the global population will be forced into urban areas by 2050 as a result of climate change (e.g., increased droughts, famines and coastline communities disappearing due to rising sea levels).
Goal 11 also notes the current issues with our cities. It is estimated 4 million died in 2016 as a result of living in cities with high air pollution. This is because large urban areas are subject to higher concentrations of vehicles and factories burning fossil fuels. The 2023 SDG report revealed that 9 in 10 humans now regularly breath polluted air.
There are several targets set out to achieve Goal 11’s aim of making cities and communities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Target 11.2 aims to provide safe, accessible, affordable and sustainable transport systems. ****
According to the 2022 SDG Report, the Netherlands has come the closest to achieving this goal. In 2021, The Netherlands introduced an entire fleet of electric buses to replace the previously carbon-emitting vehicles. The country also invests in creating walkable cities where civilians can easily commute via bicycle and on-foot without the danger of large, busy motorways.
The United States, China and the United Kingdom ranked among the worst public transport systems. Previous UN reports have used the London Underground as an example of poor public transport due to its poor ventilation systems causing toxic air pollution which put 4.8 million daily passengers at risk.