Addressing SDG 11.7: A Review of Literature on Urban Open Spaces in India

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11.7 states the need for green and public urban spaces that provide (i) universal access; (ii) safety; (iii) inclusivity; and (iv) accessibility. In India, the Smart India Mission recognizes the importance of preserving and developing open spaces for enhanced quality of life, reduction of the urban heat island effect, and maintaining the ecological balance in cities. Extensive research has been carried out to assess the impact of the quality and quantity of urban open spaces (UOS) on the sustainability of urban life. This paper conducts a systematic literature review of research articles dealing with open spaces in Indian cities over a period of two decades from 2002 to 2022 to determine the implication of the research in addressing SDG 11.7. A descriptive analysis of the papers identifies the emerging trends in the research. A content analysis involves a text search of the documents for the four keywords defined in SDG 11.7. This reveals a gap in research that focuses on the assessment of these qualities. Future study can involve an integrated approach to assess the accessibility and inclusivity of city-wide open spaces.