The United Nations General Assembly, on 27 December 2013, designated 31 October as World Cities Day. This Day is expected to promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities to address challenges relating to urbanization and to contribute to sustainable urban development around the world.
Urbanization has the potential to open up new forms of social inclusion, greater equality, access to services and new opportunities, and engagement and mobilization that reflects the diversity of cities, countries and the globe. Often this has not been the shape of urban development. There are inequalities and exclusions, often at rates greater than national averages, and at the expense of sustainable development. Creating sustainable cities thus involves addressing a range of issues such as reducing poverty, ensuring basic services, livelihoods, providing accessible, affordable and adequate housing, quality infrastructure, upgrading informal settlements and managing ecosystems.