World Habitat Day – 2 October 2023
2023 Theme: Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery
This year’s World Habitat Day aims to convene various city stakeholders to discuss the ways in which cities can be primed for recovery following the global intersecting negative economic shocks of COVID-19 and conflicts by:
- Broaching the different dimensions of economic slowdown that cities are currently experiencing and identifying actions that cities can take to boost economic recovery.
- Sharing experiences among different cities on how they are positioning themselves to tackle inflationary pressures and other tight global financial conditions.
Background
The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
History
World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme « Shelter is My Right ». Nairobi was the host city for the observance that year. Other previous themes have included: « Shelter for the Homeless » (1987, New York); « Shelter and Urbanization » (1990, London); « Future Cities » (1997, Bonn); « Safer Cities » (1998, Dubai); « Women in Urban Governance » (2000, Jamaica); « Cities without Slums » (2001, Fukuoka), « Water and Sanitation for Cities » (2003, Rio de Janeiro), « Planning our Urban Future » (2009, Washington, D.C.), « Better City, Better Life » (2010, Shanghai, China) and Cities and Climate Change (2011, Aguascalientes, Mexico).
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