United Nations Radio

This year on the occasion of World Habitat Day the UN is focusing attention on the urgency of meeting the needs of city dwellers in a rapidly urbanizing world.

World Habitat Day

Today, nations, cities and towns are grappling with the effects of climate change, resource depletion, food insecurity, population growth and economic instability. Under the theme Planning our Urban Future the goal of the day is to raise awareness of the need to deal with today's new challenges. This year's event was observed with a ceremony at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) and was attended by 1,000 international representatives. ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer says there's no doubt that the future of Asia and the Pacific will be urban. She says the current ecological footprints of some cities in the region are already three to five times higher than the global per capita average. The UN says better, more equitable urban planning is essential. Experts say failure to do so will result in urban sprawl, unplanned development and increased vulnerability for hundreds of millions of urban dwellers across the planet.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
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