Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) calls to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.” As urban areas continue to grow, an important question remains: what pathways must cities take to achieve this goal, and what can they learn from one another?
From April 27 to May 1, 2026, the Nature Cities editorial team attended Bloomberg CityLab 2026 in Madrid an annual gathering of mayors, municipal officials, policymakers, innovators, and creatives. Under Madrid’s clear blue skies, I participated in “City Innovation Studios,” joined a field trip to the M30 Transportation Command Center, and attended insightful panel discussions. Across these experiences, I observed promising, practical solutions that can help cities worldwide accelerate progress toward SDG 11.
City Innovation Challenges as Catalysts for Change
One of the most compelling approaches showcased at CityLab was the use of city innovation challenges through the “City Innovation Studios.” These initiatives provide structured, open platforms for collecting civic ideas and transforming them into actionable solutions.
The sessions began by introducing participants to the building blocks of innovation, followed by case studies highlighting successful challenge-driven initiatives. One notable example was Mexico City’s bike-sharing system, which was revitalized through an open, competitive, and transparent procurement process. This demonstrated how inclusive innovation can lead to tangible urban improvements.
Participants then joined hands-on workshops to design their own city innovation challenges. I observed a session focused on making Cincinnati’s transit system more inclusive for caregivers. After learning the methodology, participants collaborated in groups to brainstorm ideas, present them through posters, and exchange feedback.
I was particularly impressed by their creativity, both in visual storytelling and problem framing. Some groups developed engaging campaign concepts that integrated the city’s identity (figure 1, left), while others illustrated everyday challenges faced by caregivers through vivid narratives (figure 1, right). Beyond the ideas themselves, the process reflected strong capacity building: participants—many of them municipal officials—were learning how to design and implement innovation challenges that they could bring back to their own cities.
Figure 1. Examples of posters produced by participants in City Innovation Studios workshops
Transformative Urban Renewal: The Madrid M30 Project
Another powerful example of progress toward SDG 11 was demonstrated during the field visit to Madrid’s M30 motorway (Figure 2). As the city’s inner ring road, the M30 has undergone a remarkable transformation: more than half of its 99 km length, approximately 56 km, has been redirected underground.
This bold decision freed up surface space previously dominated by asphalt and traffic, enabling the development of green parks, pedestrian walkways, cycling paths, and new housing. It also substantially reduced surface-level noise and air pollution.
One of the most notable outcomes is the Madrid Río project, which created over 10 kilometers of continuous parkland along the Manzanares River. Since its completion, the area has become a vibrant, eco-friendly public space that enhances quality of life for residents and contributes to environmental sustainability. This project illustrates how infrastructure redesign can simultaneously address urban mobility, environmental health, and social well-being, which are key pillars of SDG 11.
Figure 2. Photographs of the underground sections of Madrid’s M30 motorway
Rethinking Urban Governance: Inclusion Across Sectors and Generations
A recurring theme throughout CityLab was the need to move beyond traditional approaches to governance. Sustainable urban progress cannot rely on a single sector; it requires collaboration across government, private stakeholders, and communities.
One panel highlighted the often-overlooked role of night shift workers—an “invisible engine” that keeps cities functioning. Recognizing and addressing their needs represents an emerging frontier in urban policy, emphasizing that cities must consider not only space, but also time in their planning and services.
Another important discussion focused on youth engagement. Young people hold immense potential to shape the future of cities, yet they are often excluded from decision-making processes. Speakers emphasized the need to move beyond symbolic participation toward meaningful involvement in public problem-solving.
Mayor Florence Namayanja of Masaka City, Uganda, shared an inspiring example: the establishment of a youth desk in the mayor’s office. This initiative provides a platform for young people to engage directly with city leadership, contribute ideas, and develop their talents. Some participants have even transitioned into formal roles within city government, becoming active decision-makers.
These examples highlight that achieving SDG 11 requires recognizing marginalized voices and unlocking underutilized potential through innovative governance.
Looking Ahead: Platforms for Urban Innovation
Progress toward SDG 11 depends not only on solutions, but also on platforms that enable cities to share knowledge, test ideas, and learn from one another. Bloomberg CityLab serves as one such platform, equipping local leaders with the tools, insights, and networks needed to drive urban transformation.
To learn more about the discussions and insights from Bloomberg CityLab 2026, explore the following articles contributed by the Nature Cities editorial team:
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-026-00456-6
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-026-00457-5
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-026-00458-4