UN-SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Housing’s Foundational Role in the Doughnut’s Sweet Spot The housing crisis facing communities worldwide reflects a fundamental breakdown in how societies organize and distribute this essential human need. Within the Doughnut Economics framework, housing represents a critical component of the social foundation—the minimum standards required for all people to live in dignity and security.1 This analysis examines the housing crisis through the lens of “safe and just space for humanity,” exploring how current housing systems transgress both social boundaries (by failing to meet basic human needs) and planetary boundaries (through unsustainable development practices). This approach emphasizes housing as a critical social foundation, a concept intrinsically linked to the Doughnut’s broader ambition of achieving collective prosperity within ecological limits.12 Indeed, housing security directly impacts health, education, economic opportunity, and community resilience—all essential elements of the social foundation that supports human flourishing. ...

Air pollution represents one of the most significant environmental health risks globally, with wide-ranging impacts across the human lifespan. Evidence from numerous scientific studies confirms that exposure to air pollutants—particularly fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$), nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$), and ozone ($O_3$)—is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, adverse birth outcomes, and cognitive impairments1. Even short-term exposure to pollutant levels below many regulatory standards can cause measurable health effects. Current research indicates that air pollution is responsible for approximately 8.1 million deaths annually worldwide, making it one of the leading causes of preventable deaths1. Within the Doughnut Economics framework, air pollution represents a critical planetary boundary that, when exceeded, directly undermines the social foundation of human health. The ecological ceiling breach creates a complex challenge requiring integrated policy approaches addressing both environmental protection and health equity to create a safe and just space for humanity. ...

Introduction: Land Conversion in the Doughnut Land conversion involves both the legal and physical alteration of land from one category to another, carrying significant implications for social well-being and environmental sustainability12. This process typically necessitates regulatory approval, particularly when agricultural land is repurposed for residential, commercial, or industrial uses12. Within the Doughnut Economics framework, land conversion serves as a crucial factor that can either foster sustainable development or drive societies beyond ecological boundaries, contingent upon its management34. ...

From Absence of War to Foundations of Wellbeing The concept of peace within global frameworks has evolved significantly over decades. Initially narrowly defined as the “absence of war” in traditional UN approaches, peace has progressively expanded to encompass positive attributes of social harmony, justice, and human security12. The Brundtland Report in 1987 marked a pivotal expansion, integrating conflict prevention as a key sustainability consideration. ...

The Doughnut Dilemma: Why Education Matters The Doughnut Economics framework paints a picture of development within two crucial boundaries: meeting essential societal needs without overstepping our planet’s limits1. In this picture, education is not just a fundamental right but also the engine that drives societal progress. ...