New Urban Agenda Adopted at Habitat III

The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development held in Quito, Ecuador in October, 2016, with delegations adopting the New Urban Agenda – a new framework that lays out how cities should be planned and managed to best promote sustainable urbanization.

  • That Agenda’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognized the power of cities and towns, which will constitute up to 70% of the world population by 2050, to be the engine for sustainable growth in the future, a concept further emphasized in the New Urban Agenda.
  • Habitat III brought together mayors, local and regional authorities, civil society and community groups, the private sector and urban planners.

World Habitat Day

  • The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day.
  • The theme for World Habitat Day 2 October 2017 was “Housing Policies: Affordable Homes”.
  • The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It 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.
  • World Habitat Day was established in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/202, and was first celebrated in 1986.

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