Implementation of the Sustainable Cities and Communities Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the European Union

Abstract

The study addresses problems related to the implementation of the goal aimed at making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable—Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities—based on the example of the European Union countries. The introduction attempts at defining the concept of sustainable development, with particular emphasis on its complex nature and importance for future generations, including its basic five dimensions. The purpose of the study is to analyze and present the ranking of individual European Union Member States regarding the level of sustainable development measured by the implementation of SDG 11. The conducted research covered mostly the period of 2005–2020 and included 28 countries. Sweden was the country that predominantly took the leading position in terms of the implementation of SDG 11 in the years 2010–2020; other leaders included Ireland, Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Malta, and Estonia. Romania most often ranked in the last position. Moreover, Finland and Ireland were always ranked among the top 10. The general conclusions allow it to be stated that the situation related to the implementation of SDG 11 in the European space has been gradually improving.