NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The international community has accelerated the implementation of programs aimed at securing a resilient, green and inclusive future for the world's cities and their inhabitants, officials from the UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) said Thursday.
Michal Mlynar, acting UN-Habitat executive director, said the commitment by national governments and multilateral agencies to renew urban centers and make them hubs for innovation and economic transformation has not slackened.
"The future of this planet is urban, and tangible progress is being made to secure a sustainable and safe future for our cities. We need better planning and policies to boost the quality of life for people living in cities," Mlynar said.
Currently, over 50 percent of the global population resides in urban centers, and the proportion could reach 70 percent by 2050, according to Mlynar, necessitating the urgency to expand access to basic services like housing, clean water and sanitation.
Mlynar stressed that securing a sustainable and livable future for global metropolises must be accompanied by investments in affordable shelter, green mobility, safe drinking water, sanitation, education and health.
He said that the speedy implementation of the 10 resolutions adopted at the second session of the UN-Habitat assembly, held in Nairobi in June 2023, will add vitality to the global sustainable urban agenda.
Among the resolutions endorsed at the five-day assembly include affordable housing for all, the creation of people-centered smart cities, climate action, and effective urban crisis prevention, Mlynar noted.
According to Mlynar, the implementation of UN-Habitat's new strategic plan covering 2026 to 2029 will be key to renewing cities by leveraging technology, innovations, smart policies, youth involvement, and sustainable financing.
Oumar Sylla, director for UN-Habitat's regional office for Africa, said that the continent is the new frontier for rapid urbanization, hence the need for policy support and progressive leadership to avert setbacks including crime, pollution, and the mushrooming of informal settlements.
African cities, which are projected to host 2.4 billion people by 2050, contribute about 60 percent to the continent's economy, Sylla said, adding that improved planning and investments in basic amenities will ensure these cities are resilient.
He said that municipal authorities on the continent should prioritize spatial planning, promote climate action, regeneration of green spaces, and disaster mitigation to restore the ecological health of cities. ■
