In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly designated the 31st day of October as World Cities Day. The Day is designed to explore issues around global urbanization, encourage cooperation among countries, address challenges of urbanization, and contribute to sustainable urban development around the world. The date, October 31 represents the culmination of the month-long celebration of Urban October which this year promotes ambitious climate action in cities.
The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life. Each year a different sub-theme is selected to either promote successes of urbanization or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization. The theme for World Cities Day 2021 is Adapting Cities for Climate resilience.
Creating more sustainable, climate-resilient societies involves addressing a range of issues including poverty reduction, ensuring basic services livelihoods, the provision of accessible, affordable, and adequate housing, investing in infrastructure, upgrading informal settlements, and managing ecosystems.
Sustainable and climate resilient case studies on the use platform
At the use platform, we showcase the sustainable urban development achievements of cities every day! Below are initiatives from cities around the world that demonstrate how the key topics of World Cities Day 2021 can be achieved:
Poverty reduction
Creative Horizon
Ensuring basic services and livelihoods
Lusaka 2030 – a city without slums
Accessible, affordable, and adequate housing
Discus Housing First
Upgrading informal settlements
Social and Urban Integration in Barrio Mugica
Managing ecosystems
GreenQuays
You can search the platform using SDGs or topics to find more examples.
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