World Happiness Foundation Position on SDG 11: Happy and Harmonious Communities

Introduction: Rethinking Sustainable Cities with an Abundance Mindset

Over half the world’s population—about 4.2 billion people (55%)—live in urban areas today, and by 2050 this is projected to reach 7 in 10 people globally. Cities drive over 80% of global GDP and concentrate opportunity, innovation, and services. Yet rapid urbanization brings steep challenges: nearly 1 billion people reside in informal settlements lacking basic services, 90% of urban residents breathe polluted air (causing 4.2 million annual deaths), and cities produce over 70% of greenhouse emissions. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) – “Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable” – targets these critical issues, from housing and transport to green space and air quality. Traditionally, the SDG framing focuses on fixing deficits (e.g. reducing pollution, eliminating slums), reflecting what some call a scarcity mindset. While essential, this problem-centric approach can imply cities are competing over scarce resources and merely trying to eliminate negatives. The World Happiness Foundation (WHF) advocates a complementary, abundance mindset for SDG 11: one that emphasizes co-creating positive outcomes – flourishing communities, well-being, and joy – rather than simply fighting urban problems.

Happytalism, a paradigm championed by WHF founder Luis Miguel Gallardo, asks us to reimagine development as a journey toward shared prosperity and happiness, not a zero-sum struggle. In this view, cities are not just engines of economic growth or service delivery, but powerhouses for human well-being and connection. By reframing our goals in terms of what we want to cultivate – happiness, health, belonging, harmony with nature – we unlock new possibilities for urban transformation. This is the spirit behind “Happy & Harmonious Communities,” the World Happiness Foundation’s reframing of SDG 11. Rather than merely measuring success by fewer urban ills, we measure it by the abundance of well-being our cities create.

From Sustainable Cities to Happy & Harmonious Communities

Goal 11: Happy & Harmonious Communities is a positive reimagining of SDG 11 through the lens of happytalism. It means designing cities and communities for human happiness and ecological harmony. In practical terms, urban planning should prioritize green spaces, social connection, arts and culture, and accessible well-being services, so that neighborhoods become “hubs of joy, belonging, and sustainability”. This shifts the emphasis from just building infrastructure to nurturing quality of life. We envision cities where parks, community gardens, and clean air are abundant; where public spaces encourage neighbors to meet and bond; where cultural vibrancy and i

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