World Cities Day

{{short description|United Nations observance day}}

World Cities Day is an annual United Nations observance day held on 31 October.{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201911010189.html|title=Africa: As Urbanisation Grows, Cities Unveil Sustainable Development Solutions|publisher=AllAfrica |agency=Inter Press Service|language=EN|access-date=2020-07-16|date=31 October 2019}} The global observance, first held in 2014, is organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in coordination with each year's selected host city.

History

File:2021 World Cities Day China Observance.jpg]]

World Cities Day was established on 27 December 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239,{{Cite web|url=https://undocs.org/A/RES/68/239 |title=68/239. Implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) |publisher=United Nations|language=EN|access-date=2020-06-10}} in which the General Assembly "decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day, invites States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day".{{Cite news|url=https://www.un.org/en/observances/cities-day|title=World Cities Day: 31 October|newspaper=United Nations|language=EN|access-date=2020-06-10|last1=Nations |first1=United }}{{Cite web|first=Bonface |last=Otieno|url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/Kenya-celebrates-first-World-Cities-Day/539546-5331272-c62jqoz/index.html|title=Kenya celebrates first World Cities Day|work=Business Daily Africa|language=EN|access-date=2020-06-29|date=31 October 2019}} The first World Cities Day was held in October 2014.{{cite news |last1=Michael |first1=Chris |title=The World Cities Day Challenge: so what is this thing anyway? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/oct/31/-sp-world-cities-day-challenge-what-is |work=The Guardian |date=31 October 2014 |language=en}}

A legacy of Expo 2010 Shanghai China,{{cite news |author1=Yang Jian |title=World Cities Day focusing on community work |url=https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2010298698/ |work=SHINE |date=29 October 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |author1=Hou Liqiang |title=China to celebrate World Cities Day in Fuzhou |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202010/16/WS5f898738a31024ad0ba7f3a5.html |work=China Daily |date=16 October 2020}} World Cities Day aims to promote the international community's interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.{{cite news |last1=Harrouk |first1=Christele |title=On World Cities Day UN-Habitat Releases 2020 Report on The Value of Sustainable Urbanization |url=https://www.archdaily.com/950631/on-world-cities-day-un-habitat-releases-2020-report-on-the-value-of-sustainable-urbanization |work=ArchDaily |date=2 November 2020}} The observance day ties in with Sustainable Development Goal 11, to make cities "inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".{{cite news |title=World Cities Day: Value communities, today and for the future |url=https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2020/10/31/world-cities-day-value-communities-today-and-for-the-future/ |work=Modern Diplomacy |date=31 October 2020}}

The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme and a location for its global observance is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.{{Cite web|url=https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/liverpool-to-host-2018-world-cities-day/|title=Liverpool to host 2018 World Cities Day|work=Liverpool Express|date=12 June 2018|language=EN|access-date=2020-06-29}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/world-cities-day-10-best-cities-around-the-world-for-young-people/story-MnIabwD0VYZOPFcKPdtaOI.html|title=World Cities Day: 10 best cities around the world for young people|first=Sanya |last=Panwar |work=Hindustan Times |language=EN|access-date=2020-06-18|date=31 October 2018}}

Previous World Cities Days

class="wikitable"
Year

! Sub-Theme

! Venue

! Host

2024

| Youth leading climate and local action for cities{{Cite web|url=https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/wcd|title=World Cities Day 2024|work=urbanoctober|language=EN|access-date=2024-03-18}}

| Alexandria, Egypt

| H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt

2023

| Financing sustainable urban future for all{{Cite web|url=https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/wcd|title=World Cities Day 2023|work=urbanoctober|language=EN|access-date=2023-08-11}}

| Üsküdar, Turkey

| Hilmi Türkmen, Mayor of Üsküdar

2022

| Act Local to Go Global{{Cite web|url=https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/wcd|title=World Cities Day 2022|work=urbanoctober|language=EN|access-date=2021-02-25}}

| Shanghai, China

| Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China

2021

| Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience{{Cite web|url=https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/wcd|title=World Cities Day 2021|work=urbanoctober|language=EN|access-date=2021-02-25}}

| Luxor, Arab Republic of Egypt

| H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt

2020

| Valuing our communities and cities{{Cite web|url=https://urbanoctober.unhabitat.org/wcd|title=World Cities Day 2020|work=urbanoctober|language=EN|access-date=2021-02-25}}

| Nakuru, Kenya

| James Wainaina Macharia, representing the Government of the Republic of Kenya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works

2019

| Changing the world: innovations and better life for future generations{{cite news |title=As urbanization grows, cities unveil sustainable development solutions on World Day |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1050291 |work=UN News |date=30 October 2019 |language=en}}

| Yekaterinburg, Russia

| Aleksandr Vysokinskiy, Mayor of Ekaterinburg

2018

| Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities{{Cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/events/celebration-world-cities-day-2018|title=Celebration of World Cities Day 2018|date=5 October 2018|publisher=UNESCO|language=EN|access-date=2020-06-17}}

| Liverpool, United Kingdom

| Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool

2017

| Innovative Governance, Open Cities

| Guangzhou, China

| Wang Menghui, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China

2016

| Inclusive Cities, Shared Development

| Quito, Ecuador

| Mauricio Rodas Espinel, Mayor of Quito

2015

| Designed to live together

| Milan, Italy

| Giuliano Pisapia, Mayor of Milan

2014

| Leading Urban Transformations{{Cite web|first=Joan |last=Clos|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/sep/17/world-cities-day-united-nations-habitat-new-urban-agenda|title=We need to develop a new urban agenda – let's start on World Cities Day|work=The Guardian|date=17 September 2014|language=EN|access-date=2020-06-29}}

| Shanghai, China

| Chen Zhenggao, former Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development

References

{{Reflist}}