World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on 31 October each year and was first celebrated in 2014. As with World Habitat Day, a global observance is held in a different city each year and the day focuses on a specific theme. It aims to raise international awareness of urbanization trends, challenges, and visions for sustainable urban development, promote international cooperation, and contribute to global efforts to build equitable, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive cities that provide their communities with better living environments and quality of life.

 

Background

The United Nations General Assembly designated 31 October as World Cities Day, by its resolution 68/239. The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities addressing challenges of urbanization and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

Urbanization provides the potential for new forms of social inclusion, including greater equality, access to services and new opportunities, and engagement and mobilization that reflects the diversity of cities, countries and the globe. Yet too often this is not the shape of urban development. Inequality and exclusion abound, often at rates greater than the national average, at the expense of sustainable development that delivers for all.

Urban October was launched by UN-Habitat in 2014 to emphasize the world’s urban challenges and engage the international community towards the New Urban Agenda.

Sustainable Development Goal 11, which formulates the ambition to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable - underlying the relevance of UN-Habitat’s mission. Inequalities in cities have grown since 1980. The world largest cities are also often the most unequal, and this year’s theme is embraced by the action and implementation of the New Urban Agenda, which is putting the topic of inclusive cities as one of the main pillars for the urban shift.

In October 2016, the HABITAT III Conference, held in Quito, adopted a new framework, which will set the world on a course towards sustainable urban development by rethinking how cities are planned, managed and inhabited. The New Urban Agenda will set the pace on how to deal with the challenges of urbanization in the next two decades, and is seen as an extension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, agreed on by the 193 Member States of the UN in September 2015.

 

Urban Planning and Global Climate Challenges

 

According to United Nations (UN) reports, approximately 55 percent of the world’s population currently resides in urban areas. By 2050, this figure is projected to rise to 75 percent. The rapid growth of urban populations creates new opportunities for industrial development; however, it also leads to urban overcrowding, increased social inequality, and environmental degradation. In Azerbaijan, 52.8 percent of the population lives in urban areas, while 47.2 percent resides in rural regions.

In one of his statements, the UN Secretary-General underscored that rapid urbanization will generate significant demand for housing development, including the planning and construction of new cities. These processes further exacerbate the global climate crisis.

Urban areas are responsible for approximately two-thirds of global energy consumption and more than 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. As a result, policy choices concerning urban infrastructure – such as city planning, energy efficiency, electricity generation, and transportation – made in the coming decades will play a critical role in shaping humanity’s future.

Climate change mitigation efforts are therefore largely concentrated in cities. The adoption of urban development approaches that emphasize cycling infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and expanded green areas can substantially lower greenhouse gas emissions. Future “green” cities will depend on renewable energy sources, rather than fossil fuels, to meet their lighting, heating, and cooling needs.

A wide range of critical measures must be implemented to move toward a low-carbon and sustainable future, including the adoption of electric public transport, the expansion of renewable energy sources, and the development of more advanced waste management practices. These strategies are already being implemented in cities around the world.

It is worth noting that in October 2016, the Urban Development Programme was adopted in Kyoto. This strategic framework for urbanization is aimed at promoting the construction and development of environmentally sustainable, inclusive, and economically prosperous cities.

According to a recent UN report, the highest level of urbanization is currently observed in North America, where urban residents account for 82 percent of the population. The lowest proportion of urban populations is still found in Africa and Asia. However, by 2030, it is projected that 47 percent of Africa’s population and 56 percent of Asia’s population will reside in urban areas. In Europe, the proportion of urban dwellers is expected to reach 77 percent.

At present, the world’s most densely populated urban agglomeration is Tokyo, with a population of 37.2 million. It is followed by Delhi (22.7 million), Mexico City and New York (both 20.4 million), Shanghai (20.2 million), and São Paulo (19.9 million).

 

People-Centred Smart Cities

On 31 October 2025, the Global Observance of World Cities Day will take place in Bogotá, Colombia, under the topic of people-centred smart cities. It will showcase how data-driven decision making, technology, and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. It will also focus on promoting smart city initiatives centered on people.

This year's theme reflects the growing recognition that the transformative power of digital technologies is reshaping urban life globally, offering profound opportunities to enhance how cities and human settlements are designed, planned, managed and governed. In an era marked by both urban and digital transitions, cities are increasingly adopting digital technology solutions and data to deliver better services for residents and address critical urban challenges and opportunities.

The aim of this year's theme is to promote people-centred smart cities and demonstrate how crucial it is for smart cities to prioritize human needs, inclusivity, and accessibility. Second, the observance will provide a platform for cities to exchange best practices, experiences and strategies in implementing people-centred smart city initiatives globally, especially in addressing key challenges such as the global housing crisis. Lastly, by increasing global awareness about the role of technology and innovation in advancing improved access to adequate housing and achieving urban development, the goal is to foster and encourage international cooperation and collaboration among all societal sectors on People-Centred Smart Cities.