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World Cities Day

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    World Affairs
  • Published
    1st Nov, 2022

Context

Every year, October 31 is celebrated as the World Cities Day by the United Nations.

  • The day promotes global urbanization, addresses challenges of urbanization, pushes for cooperation among countries for sustainable urban development.

History

  • On December 27, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) established World Cities Day through a resolution. 
    • The first celebration took place on October 31, 2014. 
  • The second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements in 1976 influenced the UNGA’s decision to establish World Cities Day.
  • The UN-Habitat programme, established the following year, promotes the development of sustainable cities in line with SDG 11 goals.
    • The mission of SDG 11 is to “Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” 
    • Local and regional governments need to be empowered to develop greener and more equitable cities.
  • The United Nations launched the World Cities Report on the eve of World Cities Day celebrations.
  • It conducts the annual Urban October programme for this purpose which begins on the first Monday of the month and ends on October 31, with World Cities Day.

Theme

  • “Better City, Better Life” has been the general theme of World Cities Day since its inception.
  • But each year, a sub-theme is also announced. 
    • The sub-theme this year is “Act Local to Go Global.” 
      • To reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 11 of the United Nations by 2030, local action is vital. 

Significance

  • Urbanisation is a marker of national economic growth. 
    • Such development, however, faces social, economic, demographic and environmental challenges. 
    • Some of the most visible challenges to rapid urbanisation are displacement of original inhabitants, felling of trees, animals losing their habitats, issues of healthcare, food supply and pollution.
  • World Cities Day helps address these challenges by bringing together all stakeholders of local and global urban development.

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