Video Message
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
I am honoured to address this observance of World Cities Day in China.
I would like to begin by thanking China¡¯s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the People¡¯s Government of Shandong Province and the Weihai Municipal People¡¯s Government for their invitation to UN DESA and their commitment to sustainable cities.
World Cities Day is an opportunity to reflect on both the challenges cities face and their crucial role in sustainable development.
The world is far from achieving the goal of sustainable cities.
Our cities are heating up at twice the global average rate and 99 per cent of the world¡¯s urban population breathe polluted air.
Adequate and affordable housing remains a distinct challenge. Almost one-quarter of the global urban population lives in slums.
And access to public transportation in cities remains lacking.
At the same time, cities can serve as powerful hubs for innovation, progress and economic growth, particularly when they prioritize the well-being of their residents and foster inclusive development.
With nearly 70 per cent of the global population projected to live in cities by 2050, we need people-centred cities. The focus of this year¡¯s commemoration on this topic is therefore highly welcome.
We need cities that are designed and maintained in inclusive and forward-looking ways to support and advance the aspirations and well-being of residents, including those most at risk of being left behind.
This means ensuring healthy environments, with access to safe, inclusive and green public spaces for all. It also means ensuring access to adequate, safe and affordable housing and sustainable transport systems.
Prioritizing people in urban development means adequate financial investment in urban infrastructure and the creation of sustainable urban economics, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dear Colleagues,
Distinguished participants,
UN Member States recently convened in New York for the Summit of the Future, and adopted the Pact for the Future by consensus. This landmark outcome pledges action towards a better world, including accelerating progress on the SDGs and investing in people to end poverty and strengthen trust and social cohesion. It also includes a commitment by Members States to support developing countries to plan and implement just, safe, healthy, accessible, resilient and sustainable cities.
The Pact recognizes the importance of SDG localization and the crucial role of local authorities in addressing common challenges. It calls on the UN Secretary-General to provide recommendations on how engagement with local and regional authorities could help advance the 2030 Agenda.
There are upcoming opportunities to explore these issues.
For instance, the Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum taking place in Cairo in coming November will focus on sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities.
And in November next year, Member States will gather in Qatar for the Second World Summit for Social Development to advance such agendas as combating inequalities, providing adequate housing and creating decent jobs.
My department, UN DESA, highly commends remarkable progress yielded in China in its urbanization process over past decades and strongly encourages China to share its experiences, best practices and achievements in fostering people-centred cities at these important events.
UN DESA also encourages all Member States to set ambitious goals and seek innovative approaches to achieve the 2030 Agenda.
I wish you fruitful discussions.
Thank you!