Friday, 31 October 2025

World Cities Day 2025; October 31st.

World Cities Day 2025



FORUM: "People-centred smart cities." World Cities Day 2025. This year, the Global Observance of World Cities Day on October 31st will take place in Bogotá, Colombia, under the topic of people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people. This year's theme reflect on the growing recognition that the transformative power of digital technologies is reshaping urban life globally, offering profound opportunities to enhance how cities and human settlements are designed, planned, managed and governed. In an era marked by both urban and digital transitions, cities are increasingly adopting digital technology solutions and data to deliver better services for residents and address critical urban challenges and opportunities. The aim of this year's theme is to promote people-centred smart cities and demonstrate how crucial it is for smart cities to prioritize human needs, inclusivity, and accessibility. Second, the observance will provide a platform for cities to exchange best practices, experiences and strategies in implementing people-centred smart city initiatives globally, especially in addressing key challenges such as the global housing crisis. Lastly, by increasing global awareness about the role of technology and innovation in advancing improved access to adequate housing and achieving urban development, the goal is to foster and encourage international cooperation and collaboration among all societal sectors on People-Centred Smart Cities. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #WorldCitiesDay, #31October, #UrbanOctober, #sustainableurbanfuture, #Cities.


CAMPAIGN: Let's Promote sustainable urban development by encouraging discussion and action on issues like housing, climate resilience, and smart city initiatives.


From October 1st to October 31st

The Urban October 2025 is a month-long global campaign led by UN-Habitat to promote sustainable urban development through events, dialogue, and awareness. It includes World Habitat Day on the first Monday of October and concludes with World Cities Day on October 31st. The campaign encourages governments, organizations, and communities to share ideas and activities for building more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.


October 31st




EVENTS: On October 31st; In Bogota, Colombia, the Global Observance of World Cities Day 2025, will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people.

Get the Concept Note in English | Chinese | French | Russian | Spanish | Arabic;
The Information for Participants in English | Spanish;
The Agenda Programme in English, and Register to participate!

WCD2025 venue

Roundtables


AGENDA PROGRAMME

 Location Principal room ÁGORA.

07:15 – 08:15 Registration.

 08:00 – 08:30: OPENING.
PANELLISTS 
• Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá. 
• Elkin Velásquez, Regional Director ROLAC, UN Habitat. 

08:30 – 09:00 PLENARY TALK #1: Habitat and Inclusion
 Designing Cities for Living 
Keynote Speaker: Craig Dykers, Director of Snøhetta, USA/Norway • Claudia Magalhaes, Expert in Housing Policy and Housing Finance (TBC). • Anya Brickmann, Chief Executive Offcer, Affordable Housing Institute. • Juan C. Fernández, Director of Caja Vivienda Popular (CVP) in Bogotá. • Theresa Williamson, Director, Catalytic Communities. • Pablo Echeverri, President of Constructora Cápital. • Alejandro Char- Mayor of Barranquilla. Keynote Speaker: Vanessa Velasco, Secretary of Housing of Bogota Moderator: Emil Rodríguez Garabot, Director of Habitat and Sustainable Mobility, CAF 

PANELLISTS PANEL: Habitat and Inclusion 
09:00 – 10:05: Financing Affordable Housing: Challenges and Experiences from Local to Global.
10:05 – 10:20: Break 
Keynote Speaker: Peter Bishop, Policymaker, United Kingdom) 
10:20 – 10:50: PLENARY TALK #2: Smart Governance and Participation
 Urban Revitalization and Governance 

Keynote Speaker: Peter Bishop, Policymaker, United Kingdom)

PANEL: Smart Governance and Participation.
Urban Revitalization: A Commitment to Managing and Driving Transformation in the City.

 Keynote Speaker: Carlos Salazar, Housing and Urban Development Specialist, IDB Moderator: Carlos Salazar, Housing and Urban Development Specialist, IDB • Hélène Chartier, Director of Urban Planning, C40. • Álvaro García Resta, former Secretary of Urban Development of the City of Buenos Aires. • Vanessa Velasco, Secretary of Habitat, Bogotá. • María Migliore (former Minister of Human Development and Habitat of the City of Buenos Aires, 2019–2023). 
 
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch 

 13:30 – 14:00 - PLENARY TALK #3: Resilience and Sustainability
  Green and blue Cities
Keynote Speaker: Jeremy Seigel, BIG Architects, USA

Keynote Speaker: Ming Zhang, Global Director Urban, Resilience and Land Global Department, World Bank Moderator: Diego Molano, President of Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogotá ETB • David Michaud, Water Practice Manager, Latin America and the Caribbean, World Bank. • Natasha Avendaño, Manager of the Bogotá Water and Sewerage Company • Andrés Santamaría, Executive Director of Asocapitales. • Alejandro Callejas, General Manager of Lagos de Torca. • Laura Reyes, Part of UN SG's Advisory Board on Zero Waste 

14:00 – 15:05: PANELLISTS TALK #3: Resilience and Sustainability
 Liveable Cities: Facilitating Access to Public Goods and Services.  
16:30 – 16:45  CLOSING REMARKS  
Location Principal room ÁGORA





LIVESTREAM:

  • Bogotá video
  • World Cities Day 2025 video
Welcome Notes:
  • Opening address by Mr. Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia
  • Welcome remarks by Ms. Helga Rivas, Minister of Housing, Cities, and Territory, Colombia
  • Message by Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General read by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat
  • Video message by Mr. Nga Kor Ming, President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, and Minister of Housing and Local Government, Malaysia
  • Statement by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat
  • Ministerial Remarks: Perspectives on Urban Development.
  • Ms. Edna Elena Vega Rangel, Secretary of Rural, Territorial and Urban Development, Mexico
  • Mr. Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, China
Cultural Performance.

High-level Panel: Localizing the people-centered smart cities approach.

On October 31st, 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day, will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people.

Moderator: Mr. Elkin Velásquez Monsalve, Director, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN-Habitat.

Panelists:

Mr. Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia
Ms. Ndeshihafela Larandja, Mayor of Windhoek, Namibia
Mr. Claudio Orrego, Governor of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile
Mr. Lars Weiss, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Denmark

Global Awards for Sustainable Development in Cities ceremony

• Video message by Mr. Gong Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, China
• Presentation of Awards

Roundtable 1: Achieving adequate housing through people-centered smart cities.

 

On October 31st, the Global Observance of World Cities Day, will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people.

Moderator: Ms. Vanessa Velasco, Habitat Chief Secretary, City of Bogotá

Setting the scene: Access to housing, informal settlements, and urban basic services: how can smart city initiatives and strategies help achieve these goals?

Keynote speaker: Mr. Jeroen Klink, Director, Center for Favela Studies (CEFAVELA)

Panelists:

Mr. Manuel de Araújo, Mayor of Quelimane, Mozambique
Ms. Hélène Chartier, Director of Urban Planning, C40 Cities
Ms. Oreoluwa Finnih, Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals,
Lagos State, Nigeria
Mr. Ramiro López-Ghio, Colombia Country Representative, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Ms. Nevana Srikissoon, Project Manager, eThekwini Municipality, South Africa
Mr. Julián Suarez, Manager, Sustainable Territorial Development, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF)

Q&A Session (10 minutes)
Roundtable 2: Digital innovation to enhance urban infrastructure, land use, and basic service provision.


On 31 October 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day, will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people.

Moderator:

Mr. Juan Ricardo Ortega, President of Energy Group of Bogotá.
Setting the scene: Transforming urban governance through digital innovation

Keynote speaker: 

Mr. Carlo Ratti, MIT Senseable Cities Lab

Panelists:

Mr. Luis Lota, Director of the Bogotá, Cundinamarca Metropolitan Region, Colombia
Prof. Carlos Moreno, ETI Chair, Sorbonne University, France
Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, UCLG
Ms. Zoe Elena Trohanis, Global Lead for Disaster Risk Management, World Bank

Q&A session.

On 31 October 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day, will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people.

Moderator: Mr. Juan Ricardo Ortega, President of Energy Group of Bogotá.
Setting the scene: Transforming urban governance through digital innovation.

Keynote speaker: 

Mr. Carlo Ratti, MIT Senseable Cities Lab

Panelists:
  • Mr. Luis Lota, Director of the Bogotá, Cundinamarca Metropolitan Region, Colombia
  • Prof. Carlos Moreno, ETI Chair, Sorbonne University, France
  • Ms. Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, UCLG
  • Ms. Zoe Elena Trohanis, Global Lead for Disaster Risk Management, World Bank
Q&A session.
Closing Ceremony

On October 31st, 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day, will be linked to people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people.

Closing Remarks:

• Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat

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Location: Bogotá, Bogota, Colombia

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