World Cities Day is an annualUnited Nationsobservance day held on 31 October.[1] The global observance, first held in 2014, is organized by theUnited Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in coordination with each year's selected host city.[2]
World Cities Day was established on 27 December 2013 by theUnited Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239,[3] in which the General Assembly "decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day, invitesStates, theUnited Nations system, in particularUN-Habitat, relevantinternational organizations, civil society and all relevantstakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day".[2][4] The first World Cities Day was held in October 2014.[5]
A legacy ofExpo 2010 Shanghai China,[6][7] 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 ofurbanization, and contributing to sustainableurban development around the world.[8] The observance day ties in withSustainable Development Goal 11, to make cities "inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable".[9]
The general theme of World Cities Day isBetter 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.[10][11]
| Year | Sub-Theme | Venue | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Youth leading climate and local action for cities[12] | Alexandria,Egypt | H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt |
| 2023 | Financing sustainable urban future for all[13] | Üsküdar,Turkey | Hilmi Türkmen, Mayor of Üsküdar |
| 2022 | Act Local to Go Global[14] | Shanghai,China | Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China |
| 2021 | Adapting Cities for Climate Resilience[15] | Luxor,Arab Republic of Egypt | H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt |
| 2020 | Valuing our communities and cities[16] | Nakuru,Kenya | James Wainaina Macharia, representing the Government of theRepublic 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[17] | Yekaterinburg,Russia | Aleksandr Vysokinskiy, Mayor of Ekaterinburg |
| 2018 | Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities[18][10] | 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[19] | Shanghai,China | Chen Zhenggao, former Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development |