SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

SDG 11 is to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”

Did you know…

Approximately 1 billion people live in slums. They have poor air quality and a lack of transport. Over half of these people live in east, south-east, central and south Asia.

Approximately 3 billion people do not have access to controlled waste disposal facilities. 

In 2016, 9 out of 10 people living in urban areas breathe air that did not meet the World Health Organisation’s air quality guideline values for particulate matter.

Many cities do not provide adequate access to public open spaces for its population. These spaces should be within 400 m walking distance from their home. In 2018, 220 cities in 77 countries were studied and only 21% of the population had adequate access to these open public spaces. 

Targets

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

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

• “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.”

• “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.”

• “Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.”
  
  

How Chemistry Can Help

Products from the chemical industry are used in creating new buildings, new transport infrastructure and in improving these facilities. These products must be of high quality and standard. Populations continue to grow therefore urban communities need to be able to rely on sustainable and scalable solutions. The chemistry industry is helping cities be more sustainable while improving living conditions.

By 2050, at least two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. More people living in cities means more public space and more homes will be needed. The chemical sector can play a huge role in this development by providing sustainable and readily available materials needed for large scale building projects.

This relates to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure. Having good, reliable infrastructure is very important to communities as it has an impact on people’s everyday lives. 

Chemistry can also help by using environmentally friendly technology in cars. More people living in cities means more people travelling and more cars. Car emissions contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter within the air which is bad for human health. Electric vehicles do not produce direct emissions as they do not burn fuel, they use electricity from chargeable batteries.  Therefore, the use of electric vehicles within cities can reduce emissions and hence improve air quality.