World Cities Day 2014

World Cities Day 2014 will be celebrated on 31 October in Shanghai, China, in an event hosted by Shanghai’s Municipal People’s Government. The theme for this year’s celebration is Leading Urban Transformations.

Urbanization has become an inevitable process that presents tremendous challenges, with cities growing at unprecedented rates in many nations. It should be seen as an opportunity to harness cities as engines of growth, and to lead a positive transformation towards sustainable development.

Urban transformation is inevitable: it will continue, for better or worse. If not critically reexamined, urbanization will continue to propagate negative trends, including: increased segregation, inequality, and environmental degradation. World Cities Day reminds us about the critical role that urbanization plays in development.

Cities do offer enormous promises, with overwhelming potential for innovation and a better life. Cities can become engines of economic development and spaces of freedom, innovation, prosperity, and resilience. If a city is to function properly, it must coordinate very diverse agendas related to land use, energy, water, waste, mobility, health and education, economic development, and the promotion of cultural vitality and social inclusion.

Leading urban transformation is about redefining the urban paradigm for future generations. It is about empowering people to contribute to creative solutions that can improve our shared urban future. It is about innovation and new ideas to bring about the city we need and the future we want.

To read the full article, please click here.

Source & Copyright: UN-HABITAT