World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on 31 October each year and was first celebrated in 2014.
Key points
- As with World Habitat Day, a global observance is held in a different city each year and the day focuses on a specific theme.
- This year the Global Observance of World Cities Day took place in the city of Shanghai, China.
- The theme of the day is ‘Act Local to Go Global’ focusing on the need to promote local action to accelerate the achievement of 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
- Local action is critical to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030.
- UN-Habitat has been at the forefront of SDG localization since the very endorsement of the 2030 Agenda.
- The day observes to advocate for urban development and push forward greater cooperation between national governments and cities to address urban challenges.
- The United Nations General Assembly designated 31 October as World Cities Day, by its resolution 68/239.
- The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities addressing challenges of urbanization and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.
Urban October
- Urban October was launched by UN-Habitat in 2014 to emphasize the world’s urban challenges and engage the international community towards the New Urban Agenda.
About UN-Habitat
- UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
- Mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1978 to address the issues of urban growth, it is a knowledgeable institution on urban development processes, and understands the aspirations of cities and their residents.
- UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.
- UN-Habitat has been advocating for the localization of SDGs since the endorsement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
New Urban Agenda
- In October 2016, at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III – member states signed the New Urban Agenda.
- This is an action-oriented document which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live in cities.
