SDG11, Sustainable Cities and Communities: Moving Forward with the Circular Economy (Towards Sustainable Futures)

This book explores Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, providing insights into viable pathways and policy designs for a transition towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities.

The volume discusses existing scientific literature on SDG 11 and provides conceptual frameworks relating to systemic transitions, sectoral transitions and behavioural transitions for overcoming challenges related to governance and implementation. Through detailed case studies from cities and settlements, in Europe, Middle East and Asia, it showcases the dynamic processes involved in urban transformations. Drawing from these comparative analyses, the book provides robust frameworks and tools for better solutions and viable pathways to achieve SDG targets in diverse urban settings.

Rich in empirical data, this book will be useful for scholars and researchers of development studies, environment studies, urban studies, urban sociology, political economy, political studies, public policy and sociology. It will also be useful for policy makers, professionals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and think tanks working in the area of sustainable development and urban planning.

Shyama V. Ramani is Professor at the School of Governance, United Nations University (UNU-MERIT). Her research focuses on the relationships between technology, innovation and their governance for inclusive development. Her work examines the role of technology and innovation in conjunction with actor (government, firms, citizens, public laboratories, NGOs, etc.) engagements to attain the SDGs related to gender equality, sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, education and climate change.

Hiroshan Hettiarachchi is a civil engineering professor and a sustainability and circular economy scholar from Michigan, USA. He is also the former Head of Waste Management Unit at the United Nations University (UNU-FLORES) in Dresden Germany (2013– 2019). His expertise also covers sustainable waste and waste water management, integrated management of environmental resources, nexus thinking and geotechnical engineering. He is also specialised in the formulation and implementation of scientific and capacity development projects promoting sustainability.