Sustainable Cities & Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Over half the world lives in cities, projected to reach 70% by 2050.
Cities produce 75% of global carbon emissions from just 3% of land
The Numbers That Matter
Why It Matters
Over half the global population now resides in cities, a proportion projected to reach 70% by 2050. While cities occupy just 3% of Earth's land, they account for 60–80% of energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions.
Read the full picture
The housing crisis is severe: up to 3 billion people struggle to afford housing, and 1.12 billion live in slums or informal settlements. Climate threats are intensifying — by 2040, over 2 billion urban residents could face an additional 0.5°C temperature rise, and 1 billion people already live in areas prone to severe flooding, half of them in cities. Urban green spaces have shrunk from 19.5% in 1990 to just 13.9% in 2020. Cities require $4.5–5.4 trillion annually through 2030 for climate-resilient infrastructure, yet secured only $831 billion yearly in 2021–2022. Only 19% of cities demonstrate strong civil society participation in urban planning.
Topics Covered
Take Action
Turn what you've learned into real impact. Join a challenge and track your progress.
Urban Green Walk
Map and walk to every green space in your neighborhood.
Want to explore more goals?
Each SDG is interconnected. Discover how other goals relate to Sustainable Cities.
Explore All SDGs