World Habitat Day: Cities At The Heart Of The Debate Responsable

In 1985, the United Nations declared the first Monday of October of each year as World Habitat Day, with the main objective of raising global awareness of the importance of urban habitats and the need to address the challenges facing cities around the world. Large cities are at the center of the debate on this day, as they are places where the majority of the world’s population is concentrated and where numerous problems and opportunities arise related to sustainable development, housing, the environment and the quality of life of their residents.

Yesterday, Monday October 2nd, this day was celebrated, the importance of which increases in the context of a climate crisis like the current one. This year’s event aims to find ways for cities to recover after a series of global economic crises related to COVID-19 and conflict. To achieve this, the United Nations stated that it is first necessary to analyze all dimensions of this slowdown in cities; secondly, look for measures that lead to recovery and finally exchange experiences on how to deal with inflation and financial pressures in general.

Experts say 2023 will be particularly challenging for the city’s economy. The growth of the global economy itself is slowing by around 2.5%. This is the weakest growth since 2001, not counting the first COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and the global financial crisis in 2009. Given the contribution of cities as drivers of economic recovery, the future of many countries will therefore be determined by the productivity of their urban areas. In this scenario, United Nations experts believe that for sustainable economic growth and recovery, we need cities that can manage, recover and prepare for future economic crises, a factor that must be reflected in the green recovery framework, that finances an economy. Climate neutral in a post-COVID world.

Some important topics that should be put on the agenda on this day are:

Need to ensure adequate housing: The lack of adequate housing is a critical problem in many cities, with millions of people living in precarious conditions or homeless. Access to decent housing is crucial to the well-being of urban populations.

Urban sustainability: Cities consume large amounts of natural resources and generate large amounts of waste. Urban sustainability is the ability of cities to develop in a way that minimizes their impact on the environment and uses resources more efficiently.

Infrastructure and transportation: Proper planning and management of infrastructure and transport is crucial to ensure accessibility, mobility and quality of life in cities.

Economic development and employment: Cities are important economic centers and create employment opportunities, but also face challenges related to economic inequality and access to quality jobs.

Citizen participation: Promoting citizens’ active participation in urban decision-making processes is essential to ensure that policies and projects meet the needs of the community.

Climate change and resilience: Cities are vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as floods, droughts and extreme temperatures. To address these challenges, building resilient cities is critical.

Reducing Urban Poverty: Despite the concentration of wealth in cities, many people also live in poverty. Addressing urban poverty is critical to achieving inclusive and equitable cities.

In this way, World Habitat Day is a good opportunity to reflect on these issues and promote global collaboration to address urban challenges. It also highlights the importance of cities as engines of economic and social development and the need to plan and manage them sustainably for the benefit of current and future generations.