Air Quality & Goal 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
Goal eleven is to implement sustainable cities and communities globally. This means making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Promoting efficient resource use and accelerating renewable energy are important ways to further goal eleven as well as tackle air quality issues.
Although cities only make up 3% of Earth’s land, they produce about 75% of the world’s carbon emissions. Emissions into the atmosphere produce harmful air pollutants that jeopardize both human health and ecosystems. Road emissions increasing the density of air through smog production have clear links to respiratory illness and ecosystem degradation.
Target 11.6 addresses this issue by emphasizing the importance of improved air quality on ecosystem health. As urbanization advances, sustainable development in urban areas is more important than ever to protect both our lungs and ecosystems.
Downloadable Infographics
Additional information
Ensuring sustainable cities and communities.
Sustainable Cities and Why They Matter
Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable requires fixing the root causes.
Environmental and Health Impacts of Air Pollution
A review published in 2020 on the adverse effects air pollution has on human and ecological life.