HLPF’s Review of SDG 11 to Pave Way for New Urban Agenda’s Mid-term Review

The 2026 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July will conduct in-depth reviews of progress towards five SDGs. SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) is one of these Goals. In preparation for the review, this Policy Brief reflects on the status of SDG 11 and its interlinkages with other Goals as the deadline for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development draws near.

When UN Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs in 2015, they agreed to use the next 15 years to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

After more than a decade of implementation, in July, Member States will carry out an in-depth review of SDG 11 for the third time.

Among other resources, the SDG 11 review at HLPF 2026 will draw from the UN Secretary-General’s annual SDG progress report, the SDG progress report by the UN Statistics Division, scheduled for launch on 7 July 2026, and the 2026 global SDG assessment by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) – a non-profit operating under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. Key messages from the SDG 11 Expert Group Meeting, convened by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in January 2026 in preparation for the review of SDG 11, will also support the deliberations at HLPF 2026.

Overall, there has been notable progress since the last review of SDG 11 by the HLPF in 2023, including improvements in data availability and monitoring systems, wider uptake of National Urban Policies and integrated policies and plans on climate change and disaster risk management (DRM), enhanced use of geospatial data, and increasing recognition of the role of local and regional governments in advancing the SDGs.

However, progress has been uneven and insufficient. Persistent challenges include housing affordability, urban sprawl, air pollution, infrastructure vulnerability, and unequal access to public services and public space. Intensifying climate risks, widening inequalities, geopolitical fragmentation, rapid urbanization, rising sovereign debt, and growing pressures on multilateral cooperation have put additional pressures on sustainable urban development.

Issues up for discussion during the HLPF’s review of SDG 7 include lessons that have emerged from the implementation of SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) over the past decade and policy approaches that could be strengthened, adapted, or adjusted to accelerate progress toward inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities. Countries will identify science- and evidence-based policy solutions to accelerate SDG 11 implementation while maximizing synergies and managing trade-offs across the SDGs and discuss ways in which integrated approaches to urban planning, housing, sustainable transport, climate action, resilience, food systems, and the circular economy can drive sustainable urban transformation.

Specifically, Member States will consider policies and actions to maximize synergies and drive transformation, including:

Adopting systems-based and participatory urban planning approaches;
Prioritizing equity, housing, and inclusive urban development;
Leveraging urban systems to advance sustainability and resilience; and
Scaling up circular economy solutions.

To enhance means of implementation, they will also reflect on: strengthening urban data systems as a public good; enhancing science, technology, and innovation partnerships; mobilizing sustainable financing and managing investment risk; and strengthening local capacities and multi-level governance.

The HLPF’s review of SDG 11 will seek to, among other goals, leverage participation and co-creation to advance inclusive and accessible cities, paying particular attention to vulnerable groups, and to enable governments and partners to strengthen financing, capacity building, data systems, technology, and multilevel governance for SDG 11.

The Local2030 Coalition Special Event convening as a special event in the margins of HLPF 2026 will contribute to the SDG 11 review by taking stock of progress, showcasing results, and mobilizing further action. The Local and Regional Governments Forum will spotlight local and regional governments as key partners in delivering sustainable development to 2030 and beyond.

Along with the Sevilla Commitment from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and the World Urban Forum’s Baku Call to Action, the HLPF’s review of SDG 11 will contribute to the mid-term review of the New Urban Agenda – a 20-year global framework to guide sustainable urban development that was adopted in 2016. The mid-term review is taking place in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) immediately after HLPF 2026 concludes.

HLPF 2026 will convene in New York, US, from 7-15 July. In addition to SDG 11, it will review SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals). The HLPF’s 2026 theme is ‘Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all.’ [HLPF 2026]