The Year 2023 has been a particularly challenging year for Urban Economies. The global economy growth itself is declining to about 2.5% and, apart from the initial COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and the global financial crisis in 2009, this is the weakest growth experienced since 2001. Given the size of the contribution of cities to the national economy, the future of many countries will be determined by the productivity of its urban areas. Cities are the engines that create value that boosts economic recovery. For this economic growth and recovery to be sustainable, we need cities that can absorb, recover, and prepare for future economic shocks. It is crucial that this is also packaged under the green recovery framework that scales up private and public investments to finance the transition to a climate-neutral economy in a post-COVID world. Cities all over the world have already embarked on this journey through implementing various models. UN-Habitat, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, believes that these models can be localised and scaled up through the Global Partnership for Local Investment, where experiences are shared to build a local finance framework for cities and communities, to help distribute existing funding and finance to where it can deliver the greatest impact. In the prevailing economic situation, local governments have faced increased difficulty to gain increased access to external resources to fund their development. The local finance framework integrates three key solutions to facilitate this access: 1. Cities Investment Facility (CIF); 2. UN-Habitat/UNCDF Guarantee Facility for Sustainable Cities; 3. Rapid Own Source Revenue Analysis (ROSRA).
Expected Outcomes: This year’s World Habitat Day aims to convene various city stakeholders to discuss the ways in which cities can be primed for recovery following the global intersecting negative economic shocks of COVID-19 and conflicts by:
Broaching the different dimensions of economic slowdown that cities are currently experiencing and identifying actions that cities can take to boost economic recovery.
Sharing experiences among different cities on how they are positioning themselves to tackle inflationary pressures and other tight global financial conditions.
Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldHabitatDay, #UrbanOctober, #HousingattheCentre, #Right2Housing, #MindtheGap, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #adequatehousing.
SECOND NATIONAL URBAN FORUM OF AZERBAIJAN: The National Urban Forum is organized by the government of Azerbaijan in collaboration with UN-Habitat. It is preceding World Habitat Day. It will take place in the cities of Zangilan and Baku, from 29 September - 1 October 2023. The event will bring together a diverse range of national and international urban stakeholders. The forum will address key emerging urban challenges and showcase international experience focusing on the role of urban productivity and economic growth, hereby fully deploying the potential of the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda for economic resilience and transition to a more sustainable urban future. To register for the event.
SCROLL OF HONOUR: UN-Habitat, the United Nations agency focusing on sustainable urbanization, has launched nominations for its prestigious 2023 Scroll of Honour Award. Nominations were open from 20 March to 20 June 2023. Nominations closed on 20 June 2023 and five winners have been selected. The winners are the EcoVironment, Sierra Leone, the Assembleia de Moradores from Braga, Portugal, the FICA (Fundo Imobiliário Comunitário para Aluguel), from São Paulo, Brazil, the Dubai Municipality, United Arab Emirates, the Fundación Pro Empleo Productivo A,C., from Mexico City, Mexico. The winners will receive their awards at the global observance of World Habitat Day on 2 October 2023.
STATEMENTS
Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on World Habitat Day 2023.
This year’s World Habitat Day focuses attention on ‘Resilient Urban Economies’ and the potential of cities as drivers of inclusive, green, and sustainable growth.
To fulfil this promise, cities must confront a range of challenges – from economic shocks and escalating climate emergencies to widening inequalities.
Through our Local 2030 Coalition, we are mobilizing the entire United Nations system to tackle these crises from the ground up and advance sustainable urbanization.
Local zero waste initiatives are supporting the creation of circular economies. Public efforts to expand green spaces help cool urban landscapes during heatwaves. And community action to reduce food waste and promote local production are key steps in transforming our food systems.
Building greater resilience and better protecting vulnerable populations requires far greater investments in sustainable infrastructure, early warning systems, and affordable, adequate housing for all.
At the same time, we must work to improve access to electricity, water, sanitation, transport, and other basic services – while investing in education, skills development, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Local action is vital, and global cooperation indispensable.
On this World Habitat Day, let us pledge to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements for all people, everywhere.
António Guterres
Statement of UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif on World Habitat Day 2023, October 2nd.
As we gather today to celebrate World Habitat Day, set by the United Nations to reflect on the state of human settlements and human habitat, let us remember that cities are not mere collections of buildings and roads.
Cities are vibrant ecosystems of human potential and innovation. They are our future.
In our challenging times of conflicts, economic hardships, and climate disasters, cities have proven their resilience time and time again. Cities have emerged as islands of hope, where communities unite, ideas flourish, and dreams are achieved.
UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, works with cities and communities to unlock their potential and empower them to create a better urban future – with job opportunities, green spaces, and respect for diversity.
With your support, we can tell the real story about cities. Let us share examples of cities as drivers of growth and recovery.
Let us recognize that resilient urban economies are not only about financing growth and competing to be at the top. It is also about nurturing the human spirit, embracing innovation, putting technology to serve human needs, and creating inclusive societies. Many nations recognize this and have pledged support for the sustainable development of cities and human settlements.
The second United Nations Habitat Assembly in June this year reaffirmed housing as a basic human right and mandated us to develop recommendations for affordable housing. We will also develop international guidelines for people-centered smart cities and urban biodiversity.
Let us work together to implement these policies and recommendations. As we embark on the journey, remember that the power to transform our cities lies within each one of us.
Together, we can build resilient urban economies that stand as beacons of hope, lighting the way toward a brighter, more inclusive, and sustainable future for all.
Happy World Habitat Day 2023!
COMMUNICATION MATERIALS
Posters
- Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery – World Habitat Dy 2023.
- Économies urbaines résilientes – Journée mondiale de l’habitat 2023.
- Economías urbanas resilientes – Dia Mundial Del habitat 2023, 2 de octubre.
- Устойчивая городская экономика. Города — движущая сила роста и восстановления.
- 韧性城市经济，城市推动经济增长和复苏.
- الاقتصادات الحضرية المرنة- المدن بوصفها دوافع للنمو والانتعاش.
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