SDG 11

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Building Places Worth Calling Home

By 2050, India will be the world’s most populous nation. The question is not just how many people will live in our cities — but how well they will live.

The Urban Challenge, The Human Opportunity

• By 2030, 600 million Indians will live in cities — twice the U.S. population.

• Today, urban India struggles with pollution, slums, traffic, and lack of affordable housing.

• But cities are also engines of innovation, culture, and possibility.

💬 “We don’t inherit cities from our ancestors. We build them for our children.”

Where Change Can Be Built

• Smart Cities Mission is reimagining urban spaces with better planning.

• Rise of co-living, shared mobility, and affordable housing experiments.

• Strong traditions of community life in Indian villages offer lessons for sustainability.

• Challenges: Air pollution, solid waste, climate-vulnerable infrastructure.

• Opportunity: Making Indian cities models of resilience, equity, and liveability.

💬 “A sustainable city is not one without people — it is one built for people.”

Designing the Future of Communities

• Awakening (14–18 years): Explore city problems — pollution, waste, traffic — through school projects; join clean-up drives.

• Becoming (19–24 years): Intern with NGOs in housing, mobility, or climate adaptation; work on campus design or sustainability projects.

💬 “A career in cities is not about concrete. It is about community.”

• Impacting (25–40 years): Lead urban planning, architecture, or policy initiatives; launch startups in housing, transport, or green building.

Everyday Builders of Better Cities

• 🧩 Journey 1: Kavya, 16 — “Awakening Through Action”
  📍 Jaipur | High School Student

  • Cause: Waste management

  • Action: Organized waste segregation in her school with local municipality

  • Next Step: Created peer campaigns on reducing plastic
    💬 “I learned that small waste choices can change the face of a city.”

• 🧩 Journey 2: Rohit, 23 — “Becoming a Planner”
  📍 Hyderabad | B. Arch Student

  • Cause: Affordable housing

  • Action: Internship on low-cost housing design

  • Next Step: Researching urban housing policies in India
    💬 “Sustainability is not a luxury in design — it’s a responsibility.”

• 🧩 Journey 3: Nidhi, 32 — “Impacting Through Innovation”
  📍 Mumbai | Urban Entrepreneur

  • Cause: Green mobility

  • Action: Founded a shared e-bike startup for office commuters

  • Impact: Cut 10,000 kg of CO₂ emissions in one year
    💬 “Every ride became a step toward cleaner air for my city.”

Sustainable Communities Are the Foundation of Balance

• People: Safe, inclusive spaces for every citizen.

• Planet: Cities that breathe clean air, manage waste, and adapt to climate change.

• Prosperity: Innovation hubs that power growth and jobs.

• Peace: Communities designed for fairness and safety reduce conflict.

• Partnership: Government, business, and citizens co-create sustainable cities.

💬 “A liveable city is the most powerful legacy we can leave.”

Beyond Careers — Everyday Acts for Better Cities

• Use public transport or cycle when possible.

• Participate in community clean-ups and local governance forums.

• Support startups and businesses committed to sustainability.

• Design with empathy if you are in architecture or urban planning.

💬 “You don’t just live in a city. You shape it — every day.”

Designing the India of Tomorrow

• Governments: Prioritize affordable housing, waste management, clean transport.

• Private Sector: Invest in green infrastructure, mobility solutions, and resilient housing.

• Both Together: Build cities and communities that work not just for the privileged, but for all.

💬 “The greatness of a nation will be judged by the liveability of its cities.”

SDG 11 Is Not About Buildings. It’s About Belonging.

The future of India is urban — let’s make it sustainable, inclusive, and inspiring. Imagine shaping cities that don’t just grow, but also breathe, include, and inspire.