In collaboration with the Open Access journal “Frontiers in Sociology: Sociological Theory” (www.frontiersin.org) we are bringing together a selected group of international experts to contribute to an article collection:
"Towards 2030: Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. A Sociological Perspective"

Submission Deadlines:
15 March 2022 - Abstract
15 June 2022 - Manuscript

Visit the collection homepage for the full description of the project:
https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/30641/

About this Research Topic:
This Research Topic addresses the eleventh Sustainable Development Goal, which is to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” Progress toward this goal is measured by a number of individual targets and indicators.
The UN’s most recent SDG progress report notes that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, cities had “rising numbers of slum dwellers, worsening air pollution, minimal open public spaces and limited convenient access to public transport.” In recent years, the number of slum dwellers globally has been growing, and exceeded 1 billion in 2018. As of 2019, only around 50 per cent of the urban population had convenient access to public transport. Furthermore, the proportion of urban areas allocated to streets and open public spaces averaged 16 per cent in 2020, below the UN recommendation of 30 per cent for streets and an additional 10 to 15 per cent for open public spaces.
The pandemic has only exacerbated these conditions for many urban dwellers, further reducing the likelihood of this goal being reached by 2030. With nearly two thirds of the world’s population expected to be living in urban areas by 2050, significant efforts are needed to ensure national urban policies are successfully implemented so that urban dwellers can enjoy safe, inclusive and sustainable environments.
This Research Topic will address the eleventh Sustainable Development Goal from a sociological perspective. Researchers, among other themes, will investigate urban inclusion, the impact of urban policies on social differences, and gentrification.
Given the significant impact of the lack of decent work and economic growth on urban living, this year’s edition of the Research Topic will focus particularly on the challenges and complexities of sustainable urban planning and development in the context of decent work and economic growth and the associated crisis.

This Research Topic welcomes papers that will provide both theoretical and empirical findings. Potential issues include, but are not limited to:
- Social polarization, social exclusion, digital divide, and public policies to respond to such challenges.
- Cities and communities in the context of environmental racism, climate citizenship, and climate-related migration.
- Theoretical approaches to the sustainability of urban and rural areas.
- Sustainability and community development.
- Adaptation and modernization of working and housing environments in cities and local communities.
- The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on housing, living conditions, and people’s behavior in urban environments.
- The role of residential and recreational functions in shaping healthy, inclusive, and resilient living environments in the context of a pandemic.
- Guidelines for shaping COVID-proof commercial and residential buildings and areas.
- Governance, public management, and organizational management-related issues, including multi-level, multi-stakeholder, and multi-sectoral approaches to healthy and age-friendly environments, cities, and communities.
- A collaborative and thoughtful approach to urban design and urban living that prioritizes climate-resilient infrastructure, inclusion, and accessible urban green spaces.
- Overcoming barriers in implementing inclusive green infrastructure with the usage of multi-sectoral partnerships, innovative funding/financing tools and techniques, measurement tools to value green spaces, and engagement of communities and civic-led initiatives.
- Organizing and delivering open public spaces and affordable housing as well as public services such as education, arts and culture, transportation, emergency services, waste management, and water supply.
- Studies that combine sustainable cities and communities with concepts such as the silver economy, longevity economy, social economy, circular economy, green economy, and sharing economy.

Keywords: Sustainable cities and communities, Affordable housing, SDG11, Green infrastructures, Urban design, Climate-resilient infrastructures, Urban inclusion, Climate citizenship, Gentrification, Social Polarization

Co-Editors:
- Andrzej Klimczuk, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland
- Agnieszka Ciesla, Warsaw University of Technology, Poland
- Rubal Kanozia, Central University of Punjab, India
- Grzegorz Piotr Gawron, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
- Piotr Toczyski, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Poland
- Delali A. Dovie, University of Ghana, Ghana

SUBMISSION:
Papers should be submitted through this link, using the "Submit your manuscript" button:
https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/30641/
and must follow paper templates available here: https://www.frontiersin.org/about/author-guidelines#Templates

Publishing solutions:
- Manuscripts will be peer reviewed, and if accepted for publication, are subject to publishing fees, which vary depending on the article type (https://www.frontiersin.org/about/publishing-fees). A discount or waiver can be applied for and all applications are considered (https://frontiers.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_51IljifwFBXUzY1).
- We collaborate with many leading universities making the Open Access publishing process even more accessible for authors. Click here (https://www.frontiersin.org/about/institutional-membership) to see whether your institution is collaborating with us.