13 October 2015
Word Habitat Day 2015 Calls for Public Spaces for All
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At a high-level discussion to mark World Habitat Day 2015, experts, governments and NGOs urged the creation of public spaces for all and presented case studies on the future of the world's cities.

The event was organized by UN-Habitat, UN Women, and the Permanent Mission of Grenada to the UN.

UN-HABITAT5 October 2015: At a high-level discussion to mark World Habitat Day 2015, experts, governments and NGOs urged the creation of public spaces for all and presented case studies on the future of the world’s cities. The event was organized by UN-Habitat, UN Women, and the Permanent Mission of Grenada to the UN.

Addressing the discussion on 5 October 2015, in New York, US, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the importance of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 , ‘Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.’ The ten targets under this Goal address the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), he explained, including the challenges of slums, housing and basic services, while also incorporating “a new constellation of issues,” such as urban sprawl, segregation, transport, air pollution, resilience to climate change, safety and public space. Ban noted that the implementation of other SDGs, including on employment, energy, water and sanitation, is essential to sustainable cities, and urged participants to recognize the Goals’ integrated nature and overcome the silos that they aim to transcend.

Mogens Lykketoft, President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), said implementing Goal 11 will require awareness, energy, commitment and action. “Above all, we need to get all stakeholders involved,” he added, highlighting the need for joint action by citizens, local authorities, the private sector, civil society, women’s groups, professional networks, planners, architects, foundations and the international community.

In a statement, Joan Clos, UN-Habitat Executive Director, said this year’s World Habitat Day aims to engage men and boys, “one half of humanity,” in removing the social and cultural barriers “that prevent the other half of humanity from achieving their potential.” He explained that the partnership between UN-Habitat and UN Women promotes a role for men and women alike in creating gender-equal public spaces for all, which could enhance community cohesion and promote health, happiness, and well-being for all citizens, as well as fostering investment, economic development and environmental sustainability. He also noted that public space is critical for environmental sustainability, as green and open public spaces bring environmental benefits such as cooling air, absorbing atmospheric pollutants, and redressing the temperature rise caused by hard surfacing.

Clos said The New Urban Agenda to be defined at Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016 will provide “a unique opportunity” to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and deal with the challenges of urbanization in the next two decades. [UN Press Release] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNGA President Statement] [UN-Habitat Executive Director Statement]


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