SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This is my last action project for my Humanities course and unit on the SDG's, (Sustainable Development Goals). We have been learning about many different sustainable development goals. Some were Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, No Poverty, and Climate Action. For a Field Experience, I got to contact people and organizations and interview them on my chosen SDG.  Throughout the unit, I choose SDG 11 for this final action project of this unit. At the end of the first term, we chose one of the seventeen goals that we wanted to focus on and did an essay on it. I have chosen to do an essay once again for my action project.

Most people in the world can see that racial inequality and segregation in cities and communities is unsustainable. According to the Sustainable Development Goals,“95 percent of the urban expansion in the next decades will take place in developing the world. Sustainability is the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. Sustainable development is the economic development that is conducted without the reduction of natural resources. A sustainable community is one that is economical, environmentally, and socially healthy and strong. Sustainability and sustainable development are important in cities and communities because without out order and sustainability in cities and communities, there would be chaos in the world.

Sustainable Development Goal 11 is to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, according to the United Nations. Some targets of this goal are to “ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums and to 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 persons”, according to the S.D.Gs. According to the United Nations, “Between 2000 and 2014, the proportion of the global urban population living in slums dropped from 28.4 percent to 22.8 percent.” “However, the actual number of people living in slums increased from 807 million to 883 million.” This data represents how sustainability and sustainable development is important in our cities and communities. This issue affects people who live in lower income areas.

Individuals and countries who have taken action on sustainability and sustainable development are people who are working towards this goal. Countries around the world expand their geographic boundaries to accommodate new inhabitants. From 2000 to 2015, in all regions of the world, the expansion of urban land outpaced the growth of urban populations. One organization that is based in Chicago and has taken action on the issue of unsustainable development by influencing sustainable development. This organization is called the Chicago Network for Technology. This organization uses cargo-oriented development (COD) which helps railroads, freight yards, and industrial sites become greener, more efficient, and better neighbors. They influence environmental and resource sustainability.

Individuals have been starting to take action on this issue of having unsustainable cities and communities. Ways individuals can take action for sustainability in their cities and communities are to reduce natural resource usage, do positive things in your community that make a positive impact like starting community gardens and starting beneficial programs. Something people can do to help achieve this sustainable development goal of having sustainable in cities and communities is to fight for resources and fight for change in their city and community.

Sustainable cities’ and communities’ success depends on the people in it who stand up for healthy community institutions, services, and businesses. They help in achieving this goal.

In conclusion, SDG 11 is important and it also relates to Chicago.  Without sustainable cities and communities, there would be chaos all over the world and our environment wouldn’t very healthy or strong. During this action project, I learned more about the importance of sustainability and sustainable development. SDG 11 affects me and the area I live in because I live in an area where sustainability is on the rise in my community. Sustainability in resources, environment, and economics.

Works Cited

“Goal 11 .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.” United Nations, United Nations, sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg11.

“Definition of Sustainable Community.” Institute for Sustainable Communities, sustain.org/impact/definition-sustainable-community/.

“SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.” United Nations, United Nations, in.one.un.org/page/sustainable-development-goals/sdg-11/.

"J. Smith, personal communication, May 17, 2008"

“CNT Delivers Game-Changing Research, Tools, and Solutions to Create Sustainable + Equitable Communities.” Center for Neighborhood Technology, www.cnt.org/.