World Cities Day is an annual United Nations observance day held on 31 October. The global observance, first held in 2014, is organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in coordination with each year's selected host city.
History
World Cities Day was established on 27 December 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239, in which the General Assembly "decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day, invites States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day". The first World Cities Day was held in October 2014.
A legacy of Expo 2010 Shanghai China, World Cities Day aims to promote the international community's interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world. The observance day ties in with Sustainable Development Goal 11, to make cities "inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".
The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme and a location for its global observance is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.
Previous World Cities Days Year Sub-Theme Venue Host2026Regenerating the City: Adequate Housing for All 2025 People-centred smart cities Bogotá, Colombia Carlos Fernando Galán, Mayor of Bogotá2024 Youth leading climate and local action for cities Alexandria, Egypt H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt 2023 Financing sustainable urban future for all Üsküdar, Turkey Hilmi Türkmen, Mayor of Üsküdar 2022 Act Local to Go Global Shanghai, China Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China 2021 Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience Luxor, Arab Republic of Egypt H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt 2020 Valuing our communities and cities Nakuru, Kenya James Wainaina Macharia, representing the Government of the Republic of Kenya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works 2019 Changing the world: innovations and better life for future generations Yekaterinburg, Russia Aleksandr Vysokinskiy, Mayor of Ekaterinburg 2018 Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities Liverpool, United Kingdom Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool 2017 Innovative Governance, Open Cities Guangzhou, China Wang Menghui, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China 2016 Inclusive Cities, Shared Development Quito, Ecuador Mauricio Rodas Espinel, Mayor of Quito 2015 Designed to live together Milan, Italy Giuliano Pisapia, Mayor of Milan 2014 Leading Urban Transformations Shanghai, China Chen Zhenggao, former Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development
References
External links World Cities Day, UN-Habitat