Strategic Prioritization of Sustainable Development Goal 11 Targets to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19: Insights from Cuenca’s Urban Future

Felipe Quesada-Molina (), Sebastian Astudillo-Cordero, Manuel Lema, Jessica Ortiz-Fernández and María Teresa Baquero Larriva
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Felipe Quesada-Molina: ECOS Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador
Sebastian Astudillo-Cordero: ECOS Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador
Manuel Lema: ECOS Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador
Jessica Ortiz-Fernández: ECOS Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador
María Teresa Baquero Larriva: ECOS Research Group, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Cuenca, Cuenca 010203, Ecuador

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: Cities play a vital role in creating wealth and ensuring the well-being of all their inhabitants. However, major international efforts aimed at fostering fairer, healthier, and a more sustainable world have been compromised by the widespread effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this research is to determine key priorities for addressing the pandemic’s impact in both the present and in a future urban context. Therefore, this study applies the Delphi method to a panel of 24 experts in order to identify the most and least important targets from Sustainable Development Goal 11 for post-COVID-19 sustainable urban planning in Cuenca, Ecuador. Out of the twelve targets, only five were prioritized, including “Target 11.1 Affordable housing”, Target 11.3 Sustainable Urbanization”, “Target 11.9 Implement policies for inclusion and property rights”, and “Target 6.3 Improve water quality”. These findings can serve as a foundation for future public policies and strategies for sustainable urban planning of the city.

Keywords: urban sustainability; sustainable development goal 11; sustainable cities; COVID-19; post-pandemic; Delphi method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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