A new approach to waste can advance the circular economy
Cities — Global
We must urgently find ways to turn burgeoning waste from cities into a resource
SDG 11
Sustainable cities and communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Targets
Indicators
Target
11.1
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
Indicators
11.1.1
Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing
Target
11.2
By 2030, 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
Indicators
11.2.1
Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
Target
11.3
By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
Indicators
11.3.1
Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
11.3.2
Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically
Target
11.4
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
Indicators
11.4.1
Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)
Target
11.5
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
Indicators
11.5.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
11.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP)
11.5.3
(a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters
Target
11.6
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
Indicators
11.6.1
Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities
11.6.2
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)
Target
11.7
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
Indicators
11.7.1
Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.7.2
Proportion of persons victim of physical or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months
Target
11.a
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
Indicators
11.a.1
Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space
Target
11.b
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
Indicators
11.b.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
11.b.2
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
Target
11.c
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
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Sustainable cities: greening the old alongside the new
Cities — Global
While regulations for new buildings are improving sustainability, the vast majority of existing properties predate these rules. How can we ‘fix’ older buildings?
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Nature loss: the economic crisis hiding in plain sight
Climate — Global
Climate change dominates global attention, but the destruction of nature is quietly setting up its own economic shockwave. With COP30 spotlighting the rising economic costs of nature loss, the case for treating it as an urgent financial and development priority has never been clearer
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Can AI be a gamechanger to reduce casualties from natural disasters?
Climate — Global
Historically, natural disasters have taken a far heavier toll in poorer nations than in richer ones. Can advances in artificial intelligence help close that gap – providing earlier warnings and faster, more effective responses?
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Why demography drives global development: a hidden force behind the SDGs
Economic development — Global
Demographic change is reshaping our world in profound and unequal ways. By planning for population shifts rather than reacting to them, we can seize opportunities to drive progress in areas like education, health, sustainability, and reproductive rights – and build a fairer future for all
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Advancing the Global Agenda through adopting Circular Economy
Economic development — Middle East and Northern Africa
Circular economy principles are a driving force behind Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. The power of the circular economy to revolutionize how we produce, consume, and manage resources is a critical tool in achieving the UN’s Agenda 2030
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Assessing vulnerability to prevent crises
Data and monitoring — Global
For decades, vulnerable nations have sought a more accurate and impactful means to evaluate their need for global assistance. Can the new Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) live up to its promise and more effectively help these countries prepare for risks and threats?
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Is clean technology transfer an empty promise?
Economic development — Global
Technology transfer is fundamental in developing countries’ aspirations to decarbonize, yet the flow of green tech from developed nations is far below what’s needed. How can we shift investment and political incentives to truly enable the proliferation of sustainable technology worldwide?
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Financing for development: at a crossroads
Economic development — Global
When the SDGs were adopted in 2015, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda set out a vision for how the Goals would be financed. A decade on, the numbers remain woefully short of requirements. Next year’s follow-up conference must enable rapid acceleration of development finance if the 2030 Agenda is to retain any hope of success
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Time to face the facts
Climate — Global
COP28 is a pivotal moment for the Paris Agreement. The first global stocktake presents a comprehensive view of progress towards the goals of the agreement. The synthesis report released in September makes it clear we are falling well short. The science is clear and, collectively, we have the knowledge and resources to deliver. Now it is time for political leaders to unite behind a common plan to address the climate crisis
