What is the World Urban Forum?
The ‘World Urban Forum’ began in 2001 as a United Nations conference focused on bringing about transformative change in the world’s urban areas. The World Urban Forum is a major conference of the United Nations, which is held every two years.
Its objective is to find solutions to meet the challenges posed by rapid urbanization. This year the conference will be held in Cairo, Egypt from November 4 to 8.
The forum enables UN-Habitat, the United Nations agency for sustainable cities and towns, to gather information on topics and trends, build new partnerships and find solutions to challenges including the global housing crisis, climate change, violent conflict and poverty. Help found.
In Nigeria’s Lagos lagoon, the air is being polluted by vehicle fumes and burning garbage dumps.
Why is this important?
Today, about 50 percent of the world’s population lives in cities, and this is projected to reach 70 percent by 2050. The migration of large numbers of people to urban centers has major implications for their communities, cities, economies, climate change and policy.
The greatest growth is expected to occur in Africa, where the urban population is projected to double over the next 30 years. Cairo, along with many other African cities, could become one of the largest metropolitan centers in the world. It is possible that by 2035 it could become home to one crore people.
“I see the World Urban Forum as a big coalition for change,” Anaclodia Rossbach, executive director of UN-Habitat, told UN News. Its mission is to promote collaboration among those involved in understanding and realizing sustainable urban development.
A polluted canal flows through a slum on the outskirts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
What is the theme this year?
The theme of this year’s conference is “The Beginning of It comes from home: local action for sustainable cities and communities. Under this it is emphasized that solutions should start from where people live, where they work and where they live their lives.
The conference will focus on local-level action to address the global housing crisis, which is compounded by climate change and growing inequality.
“By bringing the discussion closer to home and focusing on local action, we aim to make real improvements in people’s lives while achieving global goals,” said Anaclaudia Rossbach, a platform that serves as a platform to learn from successful local initiatives.
“At the same time, it will ensure that a city’s progress can be inspired by similar efforts elsewhere.”
Delegates will also learn about the methods planners and officials are using to make cities more sustainable. For example, the development of green spaces, parks and urban forests can help reduce the heat-island effect, improve air quality and enhance biodiversity.
What will be the next step?
A concrete outcome of the WUF12 conference will be the rehabilitation of a low-income neighborhood in Cairo called Al-Asmarat. Launched in partnership with Cairo Governorate, the initiative is part of plans to develop the city as a living example of sustainable urbanisation.
“This initiative is a testament to our belief that every city, every community and every resident can play an important role in shaping a better future,” said Anaclodia Rossbach.
During WUF12 for UN-Habitat, the focus will also be on establishing new partnerships and alliances for sustainable urban development. Through these efforts, the organization’s ‘New Urban Agenda’ and 2030 Sustainable Development Goals We will strengthen our efforts to achieve these goals, which aim to envision a better and more sustainable future for all.
The UN Habitat agency will continue to work with local authorities and inspiring activists on projects to improve the lives of people living in cities around the world.
For example, in the Kibera area of Nairobi, Kenya, UN-Habitat, in collaboration with a local agency, is engaged in efforts to restore the Ngong River and improve the local environment. Working, which provides safe and affordable drinking water to the most vulnerable communities
Additionally, in Bolivia, UN-Habitat supported the development of a national plan aimed at improving the quality of life of urban residents.