Goal 11: Make Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable

The pace of urban growth has been unprecedented. Around the turn of the century, for the first time in history, urban dwellers outnumbered their rural counterparts, and by 2015, nearly 4 billion people—54 per cent of the world’s population—lived in cities. That number is projected to reach 5 billion by 2030. Rapid urbanization brings enormous challenges, including growing numbers of slum dwellers, increased air pollution, inadequate basic services and infrastructure, and unplanned urban sprawl—which also make cities more vulnerable to disasters. With sound urban planning and management, however, the world’s urban spaces can become inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, as well as dynamic hubs of innovation and enterprise.