The global planning community has long embraced the goal of sustainable, inclusive cities, but according to a recent report from the University of Liverpool and Arup (the built-environment consultancy), awareness is now outpacing actual progress. In their study titled “UN SDG 11 and the Global Planning Agenda”, researchers pulled together literature reviews, survey data (of planning institutes in 15 countries) and interviews with senior planning professionals. The verdict: despite high awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 11, action remains inconsistent, under-resourced and uneven.
Key Findings
- Many planning professionals confirmed SDG 11 resonates — but fewer say their agencies have implemented concrete strategies to deliver on it.
- There is a clear call for investment in planning systems, planning education, and community engagement. The report emphasizes that without these supports, the planning profession cannot effectively bridge social and spatial inequalities.
- A recurring theme: “Think global, plan local.” At the heart of the message is that cities won’t become equitable and sustainable simply because global frameworks exist; it’s how local policy, capacity, and resource investment align.
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