Progress towards building sustainable communities can emerge from even the most difficult of circumstances. That’s the idea I will return to when I take students to Berlin next week – to connect the city’s past, present, and future in order to explore the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Berlin offers an unparalleled classroom. Here, students not only see the visible scars of war and division but also experience a living, breathing example of resilience, creativity, and inclusive growth, as students of earlier visits (see a recent group pictured above) can attest to. Through walking its streets, meeting those who are shaping its future, and rolling up their sleeves to contribute through volunteering, our group witnesses how a city can reimagine itself—and, crucially, how this can inspire policies for cities everywhere.

This year’s visit felt especially timely. The SDG 11 Hub team and DMU Engagement, with students, will have contributed to UN Refugee Week in Leicester before we undertake similar activities in the German Haupt Stadt.

Berlin’s history has shaped my own thinking. My grandfather, a British soldier, served in the post-war occupation of Berlin from 1945, living on the campus of the Olympiastadion. His stories of those years profoundly influenced my political outlook. I often reflect on this personal connection as I guide students through the city – a place where history is ever-present, and a place that hope and reinvention triumph over catastrophe.

Berlin is a remarkable model for SDG 11 in action. From a city in ruins at the end of World War II, divided by ideology during the Cold War, Berlin has emerged as a thriving, diverse, and inclusive metropolis.

Today, it’s home to around 7 million residents, including people from 190 countries, and remains a beacon of successful refugee integration—from Syrian families in 2015 to more than 85,000 Ukrainians welcomed since 2022.

Economically, Berlin’s ecosystem encourages innovation, with 40,000 businesses registered annually and more than 500 start-ups, including 35% of Germany’s fintech companies. Much of this growth focuses on green technology, supporting Berlin’s ambition to become the world’s Global Impact Capital.

Strong institutions, a vibrant civil society, and government support for entrepreneurship have all been key. Berlin shows how democracy, inclusion and a spirit of renewal and reinvention are essential foundations for sustainable development – and a central message of SDG 11.

At the end of our visit, focussed on SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, students debated and distilled these ten actions, inspired by Berlin’s journey:

1️: Foster inclusive democracy – Strong, accountable institutions create space for peace and progress.

2️: Protect and promote cultural diversity – Creativity and culture can drive social cohesion and innovation.

3️: Support refugees and migrants – Integration strengthens the social and economic fabric of cities.

4️: Invest in green tech and sustainable business – Cities can lead the way in climate action.

5️: Design cities for everyone – Public spaces should be accessible, safe, and welcoming.

6️: Preserve and interpret history – Memorials and museums help communities learn, reflect, and heal.

7️: Encourage grassroots action – Volunteering and local initiatives can drive powerful change.

8️: Build cross-sector partnerships – Collaboration between government, business, and civil society multiplies impact.

9️: Champion transparency and accountability – Trust in institutions underpins sustainable urban development.

10:  Promote social justice – Cities thrive when they prioritise equity and fairness for all residents.

These ideas, from the students show Berlin teaches us that the world’s most wicked problems, from climate change to inequality, cannot be tackled without peace, justice, and inclusive institutions. It is a city that has overcome division and destruction to become a European powerhouse, a leader in innovation, and a symbol of hope.

This time I am interested to learn how cities striving to meet the ambitions of SDG 11 can meet the challenge of urban sustainability.  Berlin’s story so far suggests that transformation is possible and that we all have a role to play. I am hoping, giving the applied nature of the targets and indicators of SDG 11. So just 11 ideas to find!