World Cities Day is observed on 31 October: Every year on October 31, World Cities Day, which was first observed in 2014, ends Urban October. As with World Habitat Day, a global observance is held in a different city each year and the day focuses on a specific theme. A different city hosts the event each year.
October 2022 Current Affairs Quiz
World Cities Day 2022: Theme
The theme of this year’s global observance, “Act Local to Go Global,” will be used in Shanghai, China.
World Cities Day 2022: Significance
Urbanisation is a marker of national economic growth. Such development, however, faces social, economic, demographic and environmental challenges. The displacement of original residents, the cutting down of trees, the loss of animal habitats, problems with healthcare, food supply, and pollution are some of the most visible challenges to rapid urbanisation. World Cities Day helps address these challenges by bringing together all stakeholders of local and global urban development.
World Cities Day: History
World Cities Day was established by a resolution passed by the UNGA on December 27, 2013. The initial event was held on October 31, 2014. The second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements in 1976 influenced the UNGA’s decision to establish World Cities Day.
The UN-Habitat programme, established the following year, promotes the development of sustainable cities in line with SDG 11 goals. It conducts the annual Urban October programme for this purpose which begins on the first Monday of the month and ends on October 31, with World Cities Day.