World Cities Day

The New Urban Agenda, adopted at Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador, on 20 October 2016, presents a paradigm shift based on the science of cities and lays out standards and principles for the planning, construction, development, management and improvement of urban areas. The New Urban Agenda is intended as a resource for different actors in multiple levels of government and for civil society organizations, the private sector and all who reside in urban spaces of the world. The New Urban Agenda highlights linkages between sustainable urbanization and job creation, livelihood opportunities and improved quality of life, and it insists on incorporation of all these sectors in every urban development or renewal policy and strategy. The New Urban Agenda Illustrated handbook serves as the base for the New Urban Agenda online crash course. The self-paced course in two parts is available for free and accessible at any time. Access the course here (part 1) and here (part 2). The course further brea...

In October 2016, the HABITAT III Conference , held in Quito, adopted a new framework, which will set the world on a course towards sustainable urban development by rethinking how cities are planned, managed and inhabited. The New Urban Agenda will set the pace on how to deal with the challenges of urbanization in the next two decades, and is seen as an extension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , agreed on by the 193 Member States of the UN in September 2015.

Until 2009 , more people lived in rural than in urban areas. Today, around 55% of the World's Population lives in towns and cities , with the level of urbanisation projected to reach almost 70% by 2050 . Much of the growth in urban populations will take place in Asia and Africa, especially in China, India and Nigeria where the fertility rates remain high; Learn more on  Demographics & Urban Future .

  World Cities Day  aims to  raise international awareness of urbanization trends, challenges, and visions for sustainable urban development ,  promote international cooperation , and  contribute to global efforts to build equitable, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive cities  that provide their communities with better living environments and quality of life.

World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on October 31st each year and was first celebrated in 2014. As with World Habitat Day, a global observance is held in a different city each year and the day focuses on a specific theme.