The urgency of transforming urban environments into sustainable, inclusive, and resilient spaces has never been more critical. A recent collaborative report between the University of Liverpool’s Department of Geography & Planning and global consultancy Arup investigates how the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) – which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable – is influencing global urban planning practices. While there is broad awareness within the international planning community surrounding SDG 11, the report reveals significant disparities in how these principles are embedded into actual planning systems and policies worldwide.
The study meticulously synthesizes evidence from diverse sources, including an extensive review of global academic and policy literature, survey data from Arup’s international planning network, and in-depth interviews with professionals and representative institutes across 15 countries. Additionally, it incorporates insights from a high-level panel discussion with the presidents of three leading planning institutes, conducted at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s 2025 conference. This multidimensional methodology offers a nuanced understanding of the implicit and explicit ways SDG 11 is shaping planning cultures, frameworks, and on-the-ground results.
A striking conclusion from the report is that the influence of SDG 11 frequently operates beneath the surface of planning practice – often implicit and unarticulated in formal policies. Though explicit references to SDG 11 exist in certain jurisdictions, they tend to be financially or politically motivated, with a notable trend that developing countries rely more heavily on the SDG framework to inform their spatial development strategies. This suggests that lower-income countries find SDG 11 instrumental in guiding institutional reforms and urban development priorities, potentially due to international aid and partnership structures aligned with the SDG agenda.
Furthermore, while many urban areas have developed impressive capacities to collect data and monitor indicators relevant to SDG 11, challenges remain in translating these metrics into actionable urban policies or projects. The capacity to innovate in data application differentiates cities that successfully align with SDG objectives from those where ambitions remain rhetorical. This gap demonstrates a pressing need for enhanced knowledge exchange, capacity-building, and integration of data-driven decision-making tools tailored for diverse planning contexts.
The report also highlights that engagement with SDG 11 is not purely technical or normative but frequently influenced by broader socio-political considerations. In many cases, motivations linked to enhancing institutional image or reputational capital drive planning bodies to showcase their commitment to SDG-aligned policies. This performative dimension affects the depth of implementation and underscores the importance of fostering authentic, outcome-focused planning cultures that transcend symbolic commitment.
A critical observation is the hybridity of governance approaches adopted to incorporate SDG 11 principles, combining top-down mandates with grassroots-driven initiatives and cross-jurisdictional cooperation. This blend reflects the complexity of translating global sustainability goals into diverse national and local governance realities. Understanding this mosaic of governance dynamics is essential for designing interventions that resonate with local contexts while adhering to international commitments.
The implications of these findings are profound for planners, whose roles are pivotal in reconciling broad sustainability ambitions with tangible urban development outcomes. Ensuring that planners have adequate institutional backing, technical expertise, and access to practical toolkits is necessary to facilitate the transition from aspirational frameworks to measurable urban improvements. Moreover, integrating SDG 11 vocabularies within planning education and professional development can invigorate the field by appealing to emerging generations of planners committed to global sustainability challenges.
Explicitly incorporating SDG 11 language and objectives into professional planning curricula and continuous development modules offers a gateway to enhance the legitimacy and relevance of the urban planning profession. Such embedding can galvanize a new generation of practitioners motivated not only by technical excellence but also by a shared vision of sustainable urban futures grounded in globally coordinated efforts. This underscores the critical role academic-practitioner partnerships in driving innovation and knowledge translation.
Moreover, approaching SDG 11 from an application and performance perspective allows urban planners to move beyond measuring conformity towards scrutinizing the effectiveness of policies and interventions. This shift involves analyzing how spatial planning interventions contribute to resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability, rather than merely ticking boxes in a compliance checklist. It challenges planners to develop new metrics and indicators that capture complex socio-ecological dynamics within cities.
The report’s lead authors emphasize the necessity of embedding SDG 11 principles in everyday professional practices. Dr. Olivier Sykes from the University of Liverpool explains that current global awareness has yet to sufficiently permeate local planning cultures or result in consistent practical application. He stresses collaborative efforts between universities and practitioners to bridge the divide between lofty goals and tangible urban progress.
Similarly, Jane Healey Brown of Arup highlights the importance of explicit application of SDG 11 for accountability and political buy-in. Policymakers and civil society increasingly demand measurable outcomes, putting pressure on planners to demonstrate how their work concretely contributes to sustainable development goals. Arup’s ongoing collaboration with academic and professional bodies, including a review of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s continuing professional development programs, seeks to build pragmatic tools that empower planners globally.
The findings presented by this report arrive at a crucial juncture. As urban areas grapple with mounting environmental challenges, social inequities, and the legacy of rapid, often unsustainable growth, SDG 11 offers a vital framework linking local action to global commitments. However, realizing its potential requires concerted efforts to evolve planning systems, foster inclusive governance, and innovate with data and knowledge exchanges.
In conclusion, the global planning community stands at a crossroads: continue with fragmented, implicit engagements with SDG 11, or embrace a cohesive, transparent, and action-oriented agenda driving profound transformation across urban landscapes. The report compellingly argues for the latter, positioning planners as central agents shaping a sustainable urban future that fulfills the promise of the 2030 Agenda with measurable, impactful outcomes. Only through integrating SDG 11 into every stratum of planning—from academic instruction to policy enactment to field practice—can the ambition of inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities realistically be achieved.
Subject of Research: Sustainable urban development and the integration of UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) into global planning practices.
Article Title: The Influence and Application of UN SDG 11 in Global Urban Planning: Bridging Awareness and Action by 2030.
News Publication Date: 2025
Image Credits: University of Liverpool and Arup
Keywords: Human geography, Cities, Land use, Geography, Sustainable urban development, SDG 11, Urban planning, Spatial planning, Data-driven governance, Global sustainability goals
