NEW YORK: United Nations-designated World Cities Day is globally observed every year on October 31 to promote the global community’s interest in urbanisation, look at the challenges and contribute to sustainable urban development.
The theme for World Cities Day 2021 is ‘Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience’. The main global observance will be co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Government of Egypt in Luxor.
According to the UN, cities worldwide are increasingly suffering the effects of climate-related disasters, such as floods, droughts, sea-level rise, heatwaves, landslides, and storms. At least 130 port cities with over one million inhabitants are expected to be affected by coastal flooding and the one billion people in urban informal settlements are at risk.
Urbanisation provides the potential for new forms of social inclusion, including greater equality, access to services and new opportunities, and engagement and mobilization that reflects the diversity of cities, countries and the globe. “Yet too often this is not the shape of urban development. Inequality and exclusion abound, often at rates greater than the national average, at the expense of sustainable development that delivers for all,” it says.
Inequalities in cities have grown since 1980. The world’s largest cities are also often the most unequal, and this year’s theme is embraced by the action and implementation of the New Urban Agenda, which is putting the topic of inclusive cities as one of the main pillars for the urban shift.
Sea level rise could put more than 800 million people in coastal cities at direct risk by 2050.
This #WorldCitiesDay, I renew my call for more investments in climate adaptation & resilience – key to protecting & saving lives. pic.twitter.com/BSiRA3PADy
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 31, 2021
800mn people at direct risk
In his message on the occasion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Cities are hubs of innovation and human ingenuity — and potential centres for transformative action to implement the Sustainable Development Goals and build a zero-carbon, climate-resilient and socially just world.”
The theme of this year’s World Cities Day, ‘Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience’, comes at a time when cities must be more resilient than ever before. “They have been epicentres of the COVID-19 pandemic and are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” he said.
The UN Chief said globally over 1 billion people live in informal settlements, with 70 percent highly vulnerable to climate change. He said sea level rise could put more than 800 million people in coastal cities at direct risk by 2050.
“Yet just 9% of climate finance to cities goes to adaptation and resilience, and cities in developing countries receive far less than those in developed countries. This must change — half of all climate finance should be dedicated to adaptation.
“We need a people-centred and inclusive approach to planning, building and managing cities. Resilient infrastructure, early warning systems and financial instruments to mitigate risks are crucial tools as cities seek to adapt and protect the lives and livelihoods of their residents,” he added.
“Cities can lead the way in recovering better from the pandemic, reducing emissions at the scale and speed the world needs, and securing a resilient future for billions.”
On World Cities Day, the UN chief said “let us renew our resolve to confront urban challenges, mitigate risks, and forge lasting solutions. Together, we can transform our cities, and thereby transform our world.
