SDG 11 POLICY BRIEF: A TRANSFORMATIVE VISION OF YOUTH
written by ALAIN GHOSSEIN, OLIVA NALWADDA, AND STEPHEN KOME FONDZENYUY
Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) – making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable highlights the important role cities play in the 2030 global agenda. The role of road safety is ingrained in target 11.2 – safe, sustainable transport systems – and is central to the realisation of many others, such as target 11.6 on reducing the environmental impact of cities in order to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Road safety is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals, and youth are the most affected by sustainability programmes. Having most of the urban dwellers in the future already residing in urban areas highlights the need for their involvement in sustainable decision-making. Engaging youth in these programmes will create a new cohort of sustainability advocates who will inherit the outcomes of present-day urban decisions.
Young people’s voices are critical in making public transport, cities, and public spaces sustainable. Youth interact with the city environment differently from adults, and their mental health depends on city designs and green infrastructure.
key data on SUSTAINABLE CITIES
key messages of the polIcy brIef
Governments should:
Prioritise road safety, recognizing its centrality to creating sustainable cities and communities.
Meaningfully engage youth in designing, implementing, and evaluating urban sustainability programs and incorporate youth voices in decision-making.
Embrace the safe systems approach in designing the national road safety agendas and invest in evidence-based road safety actions.
Develop and scale up sustainable, low-emission, resource-efficient, and resilient public transport systems.
Mainstream transport safety interventions such as traffic separation and safe speed limits in sustainability programming to boost the uptake of active travel and reduce the environmental impact of transport.
Create incentives for private sector investment in road safety and public transport infrastructure to mitigate the negative impact of the transport sector on the environment.
Intergovernmental Organizations and Civil Society Organizations should:
Advocate through national platforms and coalitions for meaningful youth engagement in SDG 11 implementation, monitoring, and evaluation plans.
Create mass awareness campaigns through media, workshops, and assemblies on the intersection between road safety and sustainable cities and communities.
Work with communities to design programs to improve public transport access and utilization and alternative modes like walking and cycling.
Hold governments accountable to commitments to provide safe, affordable, and sustainable transport systems.
Youth and Youth-Led Organizations should:
Advocate for integrating road safety into national climate change and environmental agendas.
Act as agents of change in the shift towards active mobility and public transport use.
Convene intergenerational dialogues to hold governments accountable for the realization of SDG 11.
Conduct peer-to-peer mass awareness campaigns on road safety and SDG 11.
