Understanding “Cities” and “Communities” in SDG 11
Within Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), the terms "cities" and "communities" refer to urban areas, towns, suburbs, human settlements, and the broader social environments where people live, work, and interact. This includes not only densely populated metropolises but also peri-urban areas and any forms of human settlement that constitute the fabric of societal life. Definitions stretch across administrative boundaries and are often shaped by factors such as population density, settlement size, social cohesion, and interaction among inhabitants. The United Nations emphasizes making all these spaces inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, underscoring the universality of SDG 11 regardless of the size or type of settlement.
Defining Sustainability in the Context of SDG 11
Sustainability under SDG 11 is comprehensively understood as the process of developing urban and community environments that promote economic growth, social inclusion, environmental protection, and resilience against disasters and shocks. This means ensuring that cities and communities:
Offer adequate and affordable housing and basic services for all residents.
Provide safe, accessible, and sustainable public transport, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Foster inclusive and participatory urbanization and human settlement planning.
Protect and enhance the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Reduce urban environmental impacts, especially air and noise pollution and poor waste management.
Strengthen disaster resilience and risk reduction.
Ensure universal access to green and public spaces that are safe and inclusive.
Encourage interconnected social, economic, and environmental links between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.
Promote strong governance and resource efficiency at all levels.
A sustainable city or community is therefore one that harmonizes ecological responsibility with social equity and economic vitality, ensuring the well-being of current and future generations.
Countries and Regions with the Least Sustainable Cities and Communities
The least sustainable cities and communities are predominantly found in developing countries, especially in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America. Cities like Lagos (Nigeria), Karachi and Lahore (Pakistan), New Delhi, Calcutta, and Mumbai (India), Manila (Philippines), Nairobi and Johannesburg (Kenya and South Africa), and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) are frequently identified as among the least sustainable globally.
Key indicators of urban unsustainability in these regions include:
High percentages of the urban population living in slums or slum-like conditions (sub-Saharan Africa has the highest at over 53%).
Rapid urban sprawl exceeding the pace of densification and infrastructure development.
Inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, housing, and basic urban services.
Limited access to public transport, with less than four in ten people having convenient access in least-developed countries.
Severe air and noise pollution, with many cities exceeding World Health Organization guidelines.
Inadequate waste collection and controlled disposal, especially in parts of Africa and Oceania where rates are below 60%.
Lack of green public spaces or safe areas for recreation, with fewer than three in ten people in least-developed countries having convenient access.
Forms of Suffering and Survival Strategies in Unsustainable Cities
Residents of the least sustainable cities and communities endure multi-faceted hardships. Housing conditions are often precarious, with millions living in overcrowded slums that lack secure tenure, adequate ventilation, clean water, and functioning sanitation facilities. These areas are typically underserved by public infrastructure, making them susceptible to disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and chronic health problems.
Survival strategies in such contexts are diverse but typically include:
Reliance on informal employment in unregulated sectors, as formal job opportunities are limited.
Community-based mutual aid networks that help families cope with income shocks, disaster impacts, and food insecurity.
Utilization of informal or community-provided services for water, waste disposal, child care, and education, given the inadequacy of public provision.
Migration, either rural-to-urban or cross-border, as people seek better opportunities or flee environmental hazards, political instability, or violence.
Adaptation to unreliable mobility, by walking long distances, relying on informal transit, or using unsafe modes of travel due to lack of affordable and reliable public transportation.
Home-based micro-enterprises, petty trading, subsistence urban agriculture, and recycling to supplement household income and improve food security.
Enduring high exposure to pollution and environmental hazards due to proximity to traffic, industries, or unregulated waste disposal sites.
These coping mechanisms provide only partial relief, leaving large segments of the population perpetually vulnerable to health crises, poverty cycles, and environmental shocks.
Additional Pressing Issues Faced by the Least Sustainable Cities and Communities
Beyond the immediate impacts of urban unsustainability, these countries and cities face complex related challenges:
Extreme Poverty: High numbers of residents live below the international poverty line, with inadequate access to basic resources.
Food Insecurity: Urban poor populations struggle to afford or access sufficient, nutritious food due to low earnings and unstable food systems.
Unemployment and Underemployment: A significant proportion of city dwellers are either unemployed or work in low-quality, informal jobs without protections.
Political Instability and Poor Governance: Many affected regions contend with weak governance, corruption, and occasional violence or conflict that hinder urban improvements.
Rapid Population Growth and Urbanization: The scale and speed of urban migration outpace investments in housing, infrastructure, and social services.
Climate Change Vulnerability and Disasters: Floods, heatwaves, cyclones, and rising sea levels disproportionately affect the urban poor due to their exposure and lack of adaptive capacity.
Public Health Crises: Overcrowding, pollution, lack of sanitation, and weak health systems increase the risk of epidemics and chronic health issues.
Social Exclusion: Marginalized groups often lack representation in decision-making and are excluded from developmental benefits, deepening urban inequality.
These overlapping challenges complicate efforts to achieve urban sustainability and require integrated, cross-cutting interventions.
United Nations Institutions Active in the Least Sustainable Cities and Their Support Mechanisms
Several United Nations institutions are at the forefront of supporting SDG 11 implementation in countries and cities with the most acute challenges. The leading agency is UN-Habitat, the official custodian of SDG 11, mandated to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns, cities, and communities. UN-Habitat’s support includes:
Providing technical assistance, policy advice, and reliable urban data for mapping, planning, and monitoring urbanization trends and challenges.
Building capacity among local and national governments for participatory planning, slum upgrading, and resilience building.
Developing globally recognized tools, such as the City Prosperity Initiative and urban observatory models, to help cities track progress toward SDG 11 indicators.
Other UN agencies are also involved:
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Supports sustainable urban governance, capacity building for policies promoting inclusive growth, and resilience.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Works on reducing urban environmental impacts, especially in air and waste management, and promotes nature-based solutions in urban development.
World Health Organization (WHO): Addresses the health impacts of urban environmental hazards, sanitation, and pollution, providing guidelines and support for safe livable cities.
UNICEF: Focuses on improving conditions for children and youth in urban environments, especially regarding health, education, and protection in slums.
Other Specialized Agencies and NGOs: Including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which works on expanding digital inclusion in cities, and networks like C40 Cities and ICLEI promoting climate action and urban sustainability.
Their interventions collectively target the core SDG 11 goals of safe, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban living by:
Supporting affordable and safe housing provision and slum upgrading projects.
Facilitating the expansion and improvement of accessible public transport and safe urban mobility options.
Promoting participatory and integrated planning processes, disaster resilience, and risk reduction strategies.
Fostering investment in green urban spaces and sustainable infrastructure.
Guiding effective waste management, pollution reduction, and climate change adaptation.
Empowering civil society and local governments to shape more inclusive, equitable urban policies.
Through these coordinated efforts, UN institutions help advance the actualization of SDG 11 in the world’s most vulnerable cities and communities, supporting millions in their quest for safer, fairer, and more sustainable urban futures.
