2 October 2023 (Baku, Azerbaijan) – In recognition of World Habitat Day 2023, UN-Habitat, the United Nations entity responsible for cities and human settlements, is holding a global observance to highlight the need for sustainable and resilient cities.

World Habitat Day, observed this year on 2 October, is designated by the United Nations to reflect on the state of cities and human settlements and promote the right to adequate shelter.

“Local action is vital, and global cooperation indispensable,” said in his message the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. “On this World Habitat Day, let us pledge to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements for all people, everywhere."

This year, the global ceremony is taking place in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan. It was co-organized with the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan under the theme ‘Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery’. This is the first celebration of the day in the Caucasus and Central Asian region.

The programme of World Habitat Day features a high-level ceremony followed by two roundtables to dive deeper into the economic slowdown cities face today and identify actionable steps and tools for post-crisis reconstruction and recovery and how to change financing for cities. Almost 1,000 participants representing 108 countries registered for the event in-person and online. Recommendations and messages from the debates will be shared on World Cities Day on 31 October and at the ministerial session on urban action and climate change at COP28 in December 2023.

“Let us recognize that resilient urban economies are not only about financing growth and competing to be at the top. It is also about nurturing the human spirit, embracing innovation, putting technology to serve human needs, and creating inclusive societies,” said Maimunah Mohd Sharif, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat at the opening ceremony of World Habitat Day.

World Habitat Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1985 and first celebrated in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1986.