9 – 18 July, New York, USA
On 9 July 2019, the largest annual gathering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation begins. The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development will run through to 18 July. The event is expected to gather more than two thousand participants to take stock of the world’s progress on the SDGs. The participants will include representatives of Member States, business and civil society leaders, and heads of UN agencies and Programmes. UN-Habitat leadership will also be there to participate in this crucial forumn.
This year, the HLPF will be particularly vibrant, as the world prepares up for the SDG Summit, the Climate Summit and other major events in September. There will be high-level participation with 47 countries presenting their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) of SDG progress.
Urbanization and SDGs 4, 8, 10, 13 and 16
Urbanization is happening at a phenomenal rate. By 2030, 60% of the world’s population are expected to live in urban areas. Understanding, harnessing and addressing the opportunities and challenges of urbanization is crucial to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goal 11 – to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
The concentration of people, innovation, wealth, knowledge, capital, and technology positions cities as power houses that can affect monumental and positive change.
UN-Habitat works for a better urban future. Based in over 90 countries, it promotes the development of socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. The UN's new System-wide Strategy for Sustainable Urban Development, endorsed in early May 2019, also prioritses urbanization as a mega trend, and recognises that sustainable urbanization is essential for the attainment of the SDGs.
In the 17 SDGs the global community has made a promise to the world and to future generations, to end poverty and hunger, boost access to health, education and jobs, while protecting our planet from environmental degradation.
And although we can see that people now are living better lives than ever before, it is also becoming evident that the international community needs to step up efforts and make advancements on the goals much faster and at a greater scale. At this years HLPF the theme is "empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality" and a specific set of SDGs will be reviewed in depth.
Sustainable Development Goal 4
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
The way cities are planned and governed, with access to education and equitable distribution in mind, can provide better and more inclusive access to all, benefitting low, middle and high-income neighbourhoods, including informal settlements.
Related side event
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) 2019
3-6 pm EST, 10 July 2019
Sustainable Development Goal 8
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
By 2050, it is projected that 7 in 10 people will live in cities and municipalities. If planned and harnessed correctly, cities are incredible sources of economic growth and prosperity, as they drive innovation, consumption and investment. Planning for gender responsive cities that enable equal participation of women in the labour market is a wise investment, that can add up to USD 28 trillion per year by 2025.
Sustainable Development Goal 10
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Sustainable cities address prevailing inequalities through better urban planning, design and governance, providing better opportunities for employment, affordable housing and accessible transport. Urban designers and policymakers can play an enormous role in laying the ground for potential integration rather than creating intentionally exclusive environments.
Sustainable Development Goal 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Sustainable cities provide real opportunities to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, through environmentally and resilient urban design, development and governance.
Related side event
EXTREME HEAT: Reducing the Impact of Heatwaves in the SDG Era
17 July 2019 – 13:15 – 14:30
Sustainable Development Goal 16
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Peaceful, inclusive and sustainable cities rely on the kind of institutions we build in cities. The impact of how we govern our cities as well as how we implement the process of urbanization itself.
Sustainable Development Goals
With humanity becoming increasingly urban, trends indicate poverty is also becoming increasingly urban. Sustainable urbanization improves the lives of people in human settlements around the world and increases prosperity.
Sustainable urbanization increases food security. The presence of cultivatable land for farming provides food for urban areas and supports agricultural productivity whilst improving the livelihoods of rural populations.
Through integrated urban planning, access to basic services, and access to decent and affordable housing, sustainable cities contribute to better health.
Inclusive and sustainable cities provide better access to education by the urban poor, women and girls. Inclusive and equitable education provides adequate skills for decent jobs and improved living conditions.
Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes nurtures sustainable economies, and helps develop inclusive and sustainable cities.
Effective urban planning and urban waste management systems ensure access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, and improve the quality and sustainability of water resources worldwide.
Access to clean and efficient energy systems is crucial for the development of safe, resilient and sustainable cities, allowing them to grow and perform efficiently while reducing pollution and mitigating climate change.
Inclusive and sustainable cities are a positive and potent force for addressing sustainable economic growth and prosperity, as they drive innovation, consumption and investment.
Investment in infrastructure, industrialization and innovation are key to making cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable.
Sustainable cities address prevailing inequalities through better urban planning, design and governance, providing better opportunities for employment, affordable housing and accessible transport.
Half the world's population now live in cities, and this is projected to increase to two-thirds by 2050. Cities can solve many of the challenges our world faces. Urban areas drive innovation, consumption and investment worldwide, making them a positive and potent force for addressing sustainable economic growth, urban development and prosperity.
Sustainable urbanization uses natural resources innovatively and efficiently. These sustainable patterns of production and consumption increase cities productivity and reduce negative environmental impacts.
Sustainable cities provide real opportunities to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, through environmentally sustainable and resilient urban design, development and governance.
Sustainable urban planning and proper management of resources can reduce the pressure coastal cities put on the environment. Proper management of waste generated by cities prevents ocean pollution and protects biodiversity.
Sustainable urbanization and better urban planning, including the development of green infrastructures and the safe management and treatment of waste, can conserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems.
Peaceful, inclusive and sustainable cities rely on the kind of institutions we build in cities. This impacts how we govern our cities as well as how we implement the process of urbanization itself.
Increasing international cooperation is seen as vital to achieving each of the 16 previous goals. Achieving the SDGs, including Goal 11, will only be possible if there are strong partnerships within and across with all the goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
With humanity becoming increasingly urban, trends indicate poverty is also becoming increasingly urban. Sustainable urbanization improves the lives of people in human settlements around the world and increases prosperity.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Sustainable urbanization increases food security. The presence of cultivatable land for farming provides food for urban areas and supports agricultural productivity whilst improving the livelihoods of rural populations.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Through integrated urban planning, access to basic services, and access to decent and affordable housing, sustainable cities contribute to better health.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Inclusive and sustainable cities provide better access to education by the urban poor, women and girls. Inclusive and equitable education provides adequate skills for decent jobs and improved living conditions.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes nurtures sustainable economies, and helps develop inclusive and sustainable cities.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Effective urban planning and urban waste management systems ensure access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, and improve the quality and sustainability of water resources worldwide.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Access to clean and efficient energy systems is crucial for the development of safe, resilient and sustainable cities, allowing them to grow and perform efficiently while reducing pollution and mitigating climate change.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Inclusive and sustainable cities are a positive and potent force for addressing sustainable economic growth and prosperity, as they drive innovation, consumption and investment.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Investment in infrastructure, industrialization and innovation are key to making cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Sustainable cities address prevailing inequalities through better urban planning, design and governance, providing better opportunities for employment, affordable housing and accessible transport.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Half the world's population now live in cities, and this is projected to increase to two-thirds by 2050. Cities can solve many of the challenges our world faces. Urban areas drive innovation, consumption and investment worldwide, making them a positive and potent force for addressing sustainable economic growth, urban development and prosperity.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Sustainable urbanization uses natural resources innovatively and efficiently. These sustainable patterns of production and consumption increase cities productivity and reduce negative environmental impacts.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Sustainable cities provide real opportunities to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, through environmentally sustainable and resilient urban design, development and governance.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Sustainable urban planning and proper management of resources can reduce the pressure coastal cities put on the environment. Proper management of waste generated by cities prevents ocean pollution and protects biodiversity.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Sustainable urbanization and better urban planning, including the development of green infrastructures and the safe management and treatment of waste, can conserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Peaceful, inclusive and sustainable cities rely on the kind of institutions we build in cities. This impacts how we govern our cities as well as how we implement the process of urbanization itself.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
Increasing international cooperation is seen as vital to achieving each of the 16 previous goals. Achieving the SDGs, including Goal 11, will only be possible if there are strong partnerships within and across with all the goals.
+ Download the response plan
+ View the COVID-19 Appeal
+ Join us
UN-Habitat Side Event
Addressing land and conflict to achieve the SDGs through conflict sensitive development
Thursday 11 July 18.30 – 20.00, Conference Room 11, UN HQ
Land is understood as a root cause of conflict and a bottleneck to development. More focus is needed on how conflict sensitive investments and development can sustain peace.
