World Population Day 2025; July 11th.

FORUM: ".Empowering Youth to Build the Families They Want." World Population Day 2025. Global fertility rates are falling, prompting warnings about “population collapse.” But the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of World Population report shows the real issue is a lack of reproductive agency—many people, especially youth, are unable to have the children they want. The observance this year, will highlight this challenge, focusing on the largest-ever generation of young people. The theme calls for ensuring youth have the rights, tools, and opportunities to shape their futures. Young people are already driving change, but face major obstacles: economic insecurity, gender inequality, limited healthcare and education, climate disruption, and conflict. A UNFPA–YouGov survey of over 14,000 people in 14 countries found most wanted more children but were prevented by social, economic, or health barriers. To respond to global population trends effectively, leaders must prioritize young people’s needs and voices. They need more than services—they need hope, stability, and a future worth planning for. As one youth activist told UNFPA, “Young people are not just thinking about their future children—they are thinking about the world those children will inherit.” Supporting their rights is key to sustainable development, peace, and human dignity. The UNFPA’s flagship State of World Population report showcases global population data, including fertility rate, gender parity in school enrolment, information on sexual and reproductive health, and much more. Together, these data shine a light on the health and rights of people around the world, especially women and young people. This World Population Day reminds us that reproductive freedom is not about the ability to have children, but to build a world where every young person has the power to decide for themselves, when, with whom and how many children they will have. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldPopulationDay; #11july, #sustainablefuture, #programmeofaction, #population, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #CountEveryone #megatrends, #icpd30.

EVENTS: On July 11th; the high-level event to mark World Population Day 2025 under the theme “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” , the UNFPA and the Specialized agencies will highlight the need or reliable data collection and analysis tools. This World Population Day is a moment to ask who is still going uncounted and why – and what this costs individuals, societies and our global efforts to leave no one behind. It is also a moment for all of us to commit to doing more to ensure that our data systems capture the full range of human diversity so that everyone is seen, can exercise their human rights and can reach their full potential which will help achieve progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.“ During the celebration, we will reflect not just on numbers– but on lives, futures, and the shared responsibility we all hold in shaping a sustainable world. UNFPA emphasizes that supporting young people to realize their reproductive potential is not only a matter of health, but also a matter of sustainable development. Ensuring access to comprehensive sexual education, youth-friendly health services, employment opportunities, and inclusive decision-making processes are all essential steps towards creating a better future for young people. Read the concept note and register to participate!

PUBLICATIONS: Read the UNDESA World Population Prospects and the UNFPA 2025 State of World Population report entitled ‘The Real Fertility Crisis” - In 2025, falling fertility rates are making global headlines, with some governments warning of a “population collapse” and introducing drastic policies to boost births. But at the same time, millions of people still can’t have the number of children they actually want. According to UNFPA’s latest State of World Population report, the real crisis isn’t about population numbers. It’s about people losing the ability to make their own choices. It’s a crisis of reproductive freedom.

LIVESTREAM: Launch of the UNFPA 2025 State of World Population Report.

STATEMENTS: Read the statement from the United Nations Secretary-General on World Population Day 2025

On this World Population Day, we celebrate the potential and promise of the largest youth generation ever.

They are not only shaping our future; they are demanding one that is just, inclusive, and sustainable.

The theme -- "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world” – reaffirms the promise of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development: that every person has the right to make informed choices about their lives and futures.

Many young people today face economic uncertainty, gender inequality, health challenges, the climate crisis and conflict.

Still, they are leading – with courage, conscience and clarity. And they are calling for systems that uphold their rights and support their choices.

I urge countries to invest in policies that ensure education, healthcare, decent work, and the full protection of their reproductive rights.

Let us stand with young people and build a future where every person can shape their destiny in a world that is fair, peaceful and full of hope.

António Guterres; United Nations Secretary-General.

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director on World Population Day 2025; July 11th.

Our human population is the subject of growing interest – and intensifying anxiety. The concerns that draw most attention are declining fertility rates, ageing and workforce shortages, while many still argue that the greatest threat to the planet is overpopulation. The real fertility crisis, however, is lack of reproductive agency. Young people are too often unable to create the families they want, while at the same time being blamed for low fertility rates and saddled with the expectation of resolving them.

It is often assumed or implied that fertility rates are the result of free choice. Unfortunately, that is not the whole picture. Financial stress, health concerns, backlash against women’s rights, global conflicts and concerns about climate change are among the many reasons why young men and women today are not having the number of children they would like, according to UNFPA’s recent State of World Population report. UNFPA surveyed 14,000 people around the world and found that 1 in 5 people under age 50 expect to end up with a family size different from their ideal – and most of them expect they will have fewer children than desired. Of those over age 50, almost a third of respondents said they’d had fewer children than they wanted.

Misguided assumptions – for example, that young people are prioritizing careers over children, or that “selfishness” is leading them off the path to parenthood – can influence policy decisions that often worsen issues they are intended to solve. We see this, for instance, when countries restrict the availability of contraceptives, leading to more unintended pregnancies.

Starting on this World Population Day, let’s listen to what young people want and need and create conditions that enable them to exercise their rights, make their own choices and enjoy a hopeful future.

As one youth activist from Lebanon told UNFPA, “Young people are not just thinking about their future children – they are thinking about the world those children will inherit.”

Secure jobs and sufficient income for housing and other living costs would help young people feel financially stable and broaden their choices about when and whether to have children. Family-friendly policies – including affordable and accessible childcare, generous and flexible parental leave, and promotion of fathers’ participation in care-giving – can help prospective parents balance career and family goals. Investing in comprehensive sexuality education is another imperative that supports informed choices.

Intergenerational understanding is crucial to build trust and strengthen solidarity and fairness across generations. Only shared solutions, grounded in human rights, will meet the demands of a demographically diverse world.

Ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is a cornerstone for sustainable, inclusive societies. Let’s create the circumstances where people who deeply want to experience the joys and rewards of parenting can meet their fertility goals, where they have hope for a better tomorrow that is supportive of their choices and protective of their rights, one where they and their children will thrive.

UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.

Press Statement of the UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office on World Population Day 2025; July 11th.

On World Population Day, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific calls for a renewed commitment to empowering young people to shape their reproductive futures, highlighting the critical findings of the recently launched 2025 State of World Population Report, titled "The Real Fertility Crisis: The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world."

This year's World Population Day theme, "Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world," resonates deeply with the realities faced by millions of young people and women across the Pacific and globally. The 2025 State of World Population Report debunks the simplistic narrative of a "population collapse" and instead reveals a more profound issue: a widespread crisis of reproductive agency, where individuals are unable to have the number of children they desire, whether more, fewer, or none at all.

"The Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (PICTs), with its significant youth bulge – more than half of its estimated 2.7 million population in 2025 is under 25 years –stand at a pivotal moment," stated Ms. Bidisha Pillai, UNFPA Director for the Pacific Island Countries and Representative in Fiji. "While some PICTs experience population growth, others face declines. Regardless of the demographic trend, the core challenge is ensuring that every young person has the information, resources, skills, and freedom to make informed choices about their bodies, their futures, and their families."

This World Population Day, UNFPA Pacific is partnering with the University of the South Pacific (USP) for a panel discussion to shift the conversation from overpopulation to reproductive justice. An ongoing challenge that needs to be addressed; not how many children people are having, but whether they have the freedom to decide for themselves. The panel will bring together technical experts, academics, policymakers, development partners, civil society, students and young people.

“On World Population Day, we reflect not just on numbers– but on lives, futures, and the shared responsibility we all hold in shaping a sustainable world,” said Keshmeer Makun, Lecturer at USP .

The 2025 State of the World Population Report indicates a global adolescent birth rate of 38 births per 1,000 girls aged 15–19, with the Asia and Pacific region recording 24. However, some Pacific Island nations exhibit adolescent birth rates significantly higher than both the global and regional averages. Notable examples include Vanuatu (81), Samoa (55), Kiribati (51), and the Solomon Islands (49), suggesting that adolescent girls in these countries are getting pregnant before they are fully equipped to decide if, when, or how many children they want to have. This means that many girls and women in the Pacific still cannot make the reproductive choices they want. Enabling adolescent girls and young women to have the knowledge and life skills to exercise their reproductive rights is crucial to tackle poverty, violence against women and girls, and inequality.

UNFPA emphasizes that supporting young people to realize their reproductive potential is not only a matter of health, but also a matter of sustainable development . Ensuring access to comprehensive sexual education, youth-friendly health services, employment opportunities, and inclusive decision-making processes are all essential steps towards creating a better future for young people.

“UNFPA urges governments and stakeholders to empower young people to make reproductive decisions freely, including by investing in quality education, employment opportunities, and the full range of reproductive health services and reliable information. UNFPA also calls on societies to address all the ways that gender inequality undermines people’s family choices,” added Ms. Pillai.

This World Population Day reminds us that reproductive freedom is not about the ability to have children, but to build a world where every young person has the power to decide for themselves, when, with whom and how many children they will have.

Tairah Firdous; Communication Specialist, UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office.

CEREMONY : 2025 United Nations Population Awards Ceremony.

The aim of the UN Population Award Ceremony is to celebrate the achievements of laureates and their contributions to the development and/or implementation of solutions to issues and questions related to population and development.

The United Nations General Assembly established the United Nations Population Award in resolution 36/201 on 17 December 1981. The Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals, or to an institution or institutions, or to any combination thereof, for the most outstanding contribution to the awareness of population questions or to their solutions.

Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award honours an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health questions and to their solutions. The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize. The Committee for the United Nations Population Award is comprised of 10 UN Member States, with United Nations Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director serving as ex-officio members. Nominations for the award are accepted through 31 December of each year.View less
Related Documents: Website

World Population Day 2024; July 11th.

FORUM: "To leave no one behind, count everyone." World Population Day 2024. as we mark this year observance, the importance of collecting inclusive data – counting everyone, everywhere, as they are – takes the spotlight. An often unrecognized hero, reliable data have helped drive global advancements in women’s access to reproductive care, reductions in maternal death and improvements in gender equality. But there is much to be done. Thirty years ago, at the landmark International Conference on Population and Development, world leaders called for reliable, timely, culturally relevant data, broken down by gender, ethnicity and other factors. While data collection and analysis tools have vastly improved since then, these changes have also exposed significant information gaps and potential risks, including the misrepresentation or misuse of data. So we have not yet delivered on that call to action. In an increasingly unpredictable world – with rapid population growth in some places, rapid ageing in others, and climate change, conflict and crises everywhere – reliable population data are more important than ever, and must be used to reach and respond to the needs of those who have been left behind. Too many people, communities and needs are going uncounted and unaccounted for. Indeed, research in UNFPA’s flagship State of World Population report shows that the world’s most marginalized communities have been largely excluded from progress. Why? Because we are not prioritizing investments in population data systems, or making data collection safe for all people, or working with marginalized communities to ensure they are represented. New and innovative data tools can bring invisible issues to light and illustrate the full picture of people’s experiences. But these applications must be carefully managed: Biases and risks to privacy remain unresolved concerns around technology such as artificial intelligence, or AI. As the world moves into a new era of data collection, societies must work to ensure that processes respect people’s rights and protect their information, while gathering data that capture multifaceted experiences. Countries and societies must champion data collection that counts people as they are, in all their complexity. To be sure, data alone cannot tell the whole story. Too often, data reduce people to simple statistics – reinforcing stereotypes, biases and stigma. Combating prejudice and inequality requires updating our data-collection processes to be inclusive, equitable and transparent. Individuals are experts in their own experiences. Empowering people, especially those left behind, to share their full stories and selves in data collection is key to a more resilient and equitable future for all. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldPopulationDay; #11july, #sustainablefuture, #programmeofaction, #population, #LeaveNoOneBehind, #CountEveryone #megatrends, #icpd30.

EVENTS: On July 11th; to mark World Population Day 2024, the UNFPA and the Specialized agencies will highlight the need or reliable data collection and analysis tools. This World Population Day is a moment to ask who is still going uncounted and why – and what this costs individuals, societies and our global efforts to leave no one behind. It is also a moment for all of us to commit to doing more to ensure that our data systems capture the full range of human diversity so that everyone is seen, can exercise their human rights and can reach their full potential which will help achieve progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Statement of the United Nations Secretary General on World Population Day 2024; July 11th.

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action. It must also be the year we resolve to accelerate efforts and investments to turn its promises into a reality.

Central to the ICPD Programme of Action is the recognition that women’s sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights are cornerstones of sustainable development.

In the decades since it was adopted, we have made progress. More women than ever have access to modern contraception. Maternal deaths have fallen thirty-four per cent since the year 2000. The women’s movements and civil society have been critical to driving change.

But progress has been unequal and unsteady. It is outrageous that well into the 21st century, around 800 women die needlessly every day in pregnancy and childbirth – the vast majority in developing countries. And in some places, legislative advances in tackling vital issues such as female genital mutilation risk going into reverse.

As the theme of this year’s World Population Day reminds us, investing in data collection is important to understanding problems, tailoring solutions, and driving progress. So is finance. I urge countries to make the most of the Summit of the Future this year to unleash affordable capital for sustainable development.

Let’s deliver on the ICPD Programme of Action for everyone, everywhere.

United Nations Secretary-General.

Statement from UNFPA Executive Director on World Population Day 2024; July 11th.

For humanity to progress, people must be counted, wherever they are and whoever they are – in all their diversity. To end inequality, to find and grow peace and prosperity, to weave more threads of hope, the world needs to do more for inclusion.

To go uncounted is to be made invisible and, as a result, left unserved. This contributes to a 10-year-old girl being left with no health care when she is displaced during conflict. Or to an older woman with a disability having no safety net when a crisis strikes. It leaves a newborn in a remote indigenous community without the passport to protection that birth registration confers.

Over the last three decades, heeding the call of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, societies around the world have made tremendous strides in improving population data gathering, analysis and use. New population numbers, disaggregated by age, ethnicity, gender and other factors, reflect the diversity of our societies. To take just one example, approximately two thirds of countries now include questions on disability in their censuses.

Advances like these have improved the delivery of health care to people all over the world, resulting in significant leaps forward in sexual and reproductive health and the ability to exercise rights and choices. Increasingly, new technologies are enabling more granular and timely measurement of more people’s experiences than ever before.

Even so, the most marginalized communities are still underrepresented in data, and the consequences of this deeply affect their lives and well-being. Recent UNFPA research reveals acute and growing inequalities, within and among countries. In too many places, for example, women from racial and ethnic minority groups are nearly invisible in statistics tracking maternal deaths. This is one reason why health and social services overlook their needs, and a far greater share of these women die giving birth.

World Population Day 2024 is a moment to ask who is still going uncounted and why – and what this costs individuals, societies and our global efforts to leave no one behind. It is also a moment for all of us to commit to doing more to ensure that our data systems capture the full range of human diversity so that everyone is seen, can exercise their human rights and can reach their full potential.

Thirty years on from Cairo, there’s much to be celebrated but still much work to be done. People may be hard to reach, but no one is unreachable. To realize the rights and choices of those pushed to the margins of our societies, we have to count them – because everyone counts. Our rich human tapestry is only as strong as the weakest thread. When data and other systems work for those on the margins, they work for everyone. This is how we accelerate progress for all.

Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA. 

MEETING: Navigating Megatrends: The ICPD Programme of Action for a Sustainable Future.

Launch of the ICPD30 Think Pieces.

Date: Thursday 11 July 2024.

Time: 11:30 - 1 PM.

Venue: UN Secretariat, New York - Conference Room 6.

Interpretation: French and Spanish 

 ICPD30 in the context of global megatrends

 The vision and values of the landmark 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA) inspired development priorities worldwide. The core tenet of the ICPD-PoA - that sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and women empowerment are absolute preconditions for sustainable development - is now widely recognized within development agendas. The ICPD-PoA discouraged target-based population policies and affirmed an integrated multi-sectoral approach to development based on human rights, non-discrimination and inclusive human capital development. Recognizing environmental stress, it called to reform unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, and eradicate inequality and multidimensional poverty. Thirty years after the adoption of the Programme of Action, countries face diverse demographic trends and a constellation of challenges including pushback on gender equality and reproductive rights, the climate crisis and increasing conflict that are displacing millions of people, as well as pressures around population ageing and rapid urbanization. While global, regional and national initiatives have advanced many core objectives of the PoA and contributed to progress in the global development agenda, shortfalls in implementation now coincide with new and unfamiliar threats to development. At the midpoint on our way to 2030, about half of SDG targets with available data are moderately or severely off track; and over 30 per cent have either seen no movement or regressed below the 2015 baseline. Impacted by polycrises, the world is back at hunger levels not seen since 2005. Under current trends, 575 million people will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030, with only about one third of countries meeting the target to halve national poverty levels1 . The world’s most 1 United Nations, The Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2023 Special edition. 2 marginalized people, including low-income groups, persons with disabilities, and, racial and ethnic minorities have seen the least progress in achieving their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). At the current pace of decline, maternal mortality in 2030 will still be almost three times higher than the SDG target 3.1 of 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births. UNFPA’s ICPD30 Think Pieces To mark the 30th anniversary of the ICPD, and as the international community prepares for the Summit of the Future in September 2024, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has produced five Think Pieces exploring key themes shaping the future of the ICPD mandate and providing future-focused ideas on how to achieve the PoA in a world of radical transformation. 

The think pieces are entitled:

 1. Demographic Change and Sustainability 

2. The Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 

3. The Future of Population Data 

4. ICPD and Climate Action 

5. A Safe Digital Future 

The think pieces are intended to prompt discussion on future priorities and directions for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and accelerating, advancing and amplifying the vision and principles of the ICPD. Developed under UNFPA’s leadership, the Think Pieces include technical contributions from more than 50 experts from the UN system, academia, civil society and INGOs.

The event 

The ICPD30 Think Pieces will be launched on World Population Day (annually celebrated on July 11th) to raise awareness of global population issues. The event will also take place concurrently with the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which this year will focus on "Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises”. The launch session will thus provide a platform for global leaders, policymakers, experts, and advocates to engage in meaningful discussions and reflections on the future role of the ICPD mandate in realizing the promise of the SDGs, and the challenges ahead. 

Key objectives of the launch: 

● Disseminate the key findings and insights from UNFPA's five ICPD30 Think Pieces, providing participants with a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics in population and development and their intersections with global megatrends. 

● Explore the policy implications of the findings and highlight actionable recommendations for governments and other stakeholders to advance the goals of the ICPD-PoA and promote their alignment and integration with the SDGs. 

● Inspire renewed commitment and collective action towards achieving the vision set forth in the ICPD-PoA, ensuring that the next 30 years bring about positive and sustainable change.

● Provide an opportunity for networking and enhanced collaboration among diverse stakeholders working on the key themes shaping the future of the ICPD mandate. 

Target audience: The primary target audience for the event will be Member States (senior government officials and representatives of the permanent missions), as well as civil society organizations, international agencies, experts, and other delegations attending the HLPF. 

Format: Following the welcome address by the moderator, opening remarks will be provided by UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNFPA Deputy Executive Director for Programme, Ms. Diene Keita, alongside the three co-hosts from Canada, Cote d’Ivoire and Japan (TBC), who will officially launch the ICPD30 Think Pieces. A presentation summarising the key findings and messages from the 5 papers will be delivered by the Chief of Population and Development at UNFPA Headquarters. This will be followed by commentaries by experts in population and development issues. In a Q&A session, Member States and other participants in the audience will be encouraged to ask questions or share policy and practice experiences relevant to the topics of the Think Pieces. The moderator will make brief closing remarks at the end of the session.

LIVESTREAM: Navigating Megatrends: The ICPD Programme of Action for a Sustainable Future. Watch the webcast!

Remarks by Secretary Clinton: July 2012 - World Population Day

World Population Day

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

July 11, 2012

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This year as we mark World Population Day, leaders from around the globe are meeting in London for the Family Planning Summit hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They are working to find new ways to support the rights of women and young people to decide whether, when, and how many children to have.

Reproductive rights are among the most basic of human rights. But too often, in too many places, these rights are denied. Millions of women and young people in developing countries don't have access to information to plan their family. They don't have health services and modern methods of contraception. This is not only a violation of their right to decide the number, timing, and spacing of their children, it's also a question of equity as women everywhere should have the same ability to determine this fundamental part of their lives.
Voluntary family planning programs represent more than just an investment in health and human rights. Family planning is one of the most successful development interventions and one of the strongest and most cost-effective investments available. It reduces poverty, and it allows governments to invest in infrastructure, schooling, and healthcare. For over 40 years the U.S. government, through the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been committed to supporting effective and sustainable family planning programs. During this current fiscal year the U.S. contributed over $640 million through USAID for bilateral family planning and reproductive health programs, and $35 million to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the largest multilateral provider of life-saving family planning and reproductive health information and services. The partnership between the U.S. government and UNFPA is critical to advancing sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights for women, men, adolescents and youth around the world.
We must continue to build on this solid foundation and advance solidarity within the international community for the right of women and young people to make decisions about their own bodies. Our efforts are critical to improving the status of women and upholding these basic human rights around the world.

PRN: 2012/1137

Unite Nations Secretary-General's Message on World Habitat Day - October 3, 2011

Celebrations in 2011 

Secretary-General's Message on World Habitat Day 2011

This year, World Habitat Day falls during the month when demographers predict our planet’s seven billionth inhabitant will be born.  The future that this child and its generation will inherit depends to a great degree on how we handle the competing pressures of growing population growth, urbanization and climate change.

Experts predict that by the year 2050, the global population will have increased by 50 per cent from what it was in 1999.  Also by that time, scientists say, global greenhouse gas emissions must decrease by 50 per cent compared to levels at the turn of the millennium.  I call this the “50-50-50 challenge”.

Rising sea levels are a major impact of climate change — and an urgent concern.  Sixty million people now live within one metre of sea level.  By the end of the century, that number will jump to 130 million.  Major coastal cities — such as Cairo, New York, Karachi, Kolkata, Belem, New Orleans, Shanghai, Tokyo, Lagos, Miami and Amsterdam — could face serious threats from storm surges.
The nexus between urbanization and climate change is real and potentially deadly.
Cities are centres of industrialization and sources of emissions, but they are also home to solutions.  More and more municipalities are harnessing wind, solar and geothermal energy, contributing to green growth and improving environmental protection.

Local efforts are critical to success, but they must be supported by international initiatives.  We have already seen progress, including the creation of the Climate Change Adaptation Fund and adoption of the action plan to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, known as “REDD plus”.  All countries agree on the goal of limiting global temperature rise to below 2° C.  Developed and developing countries have committed to lower greenhouse gasses in a formal, accountable international agreement.

Now we need to build on these advances.  The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban this December must achieve decisive progress.  Urbanization will be on the agenda at next year’s “Rio+20” United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.

On this observance of World Habitat Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the important journey to a more sustainable future, and let us focus greater attention on addressing climate change in the world’s cities and beyond.

Ban Ki-moon