2026 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report Inclusive Urban Futures: From Inequality to Opportunity

Rapid urbanization continues to reshape the economies and societies of Asia and the Paci c, creating new opportunities for the region’s people, while putting increasing pressure on the systems that support urban life. In many cities, infrastructure and services have expanded, but access remains uneven. Deep divides persist, which curtail the opportunities of tens of millions of urban residents and risk perpetuating inequality across generations. About 65 per cent of all SDG targets are estimated to depend on the involvement and action of local and urban governments. This underscores the importance of local government capabilities for urban planning, service delivery and governance in achieving sustainable development outcomes. This report focuses on how cities can decisively transition from a state of unequal development towards becoming engines of inclusive and sustainable development. Nearly 700 million people in the region—almost two-thirds of the global total—live in slums or informal settlements, lacking access to basic services. Over 65 per cent of urban workers are engaged in informal, low-paid and often unsafe jobs. Environmental risks, from extreme heat to poor air quality, disproportionately affect those with the fewest resources to cope. Today, air pollution, for example, is causing deadly harm to millions in the big metropolises of Asia. Critical “greening” choices–for instance, banning the polluting practices of industry and agriculture or providing affordable alternatives for clean energy and transport–are no longer “sustainability” luxuries but actions that save lives.

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