Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science,
productivity, social development and much more.
At their best, cities have enabled people to advance
socially and economically.
However, many challenges exist to maintaining cities
in a way that continues to create jobs and prosperity while not straining land
and resources.
Common urban challenges include congestion, lack of
funds to provide basic services, a shortage of adequate housing and declining
infrastructure.
The challenges cities face can be overcome in ways
that allow them to continue to thrive and grow, while improving resource use
and reducing pollution and poverty. The future we want includes cities of
opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing,
transportation and more.
The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable
Urban Development, took place in Quito, Ecuador from 17-20 October 2016, and
was the first UN global summit on urbanization since the adoption of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Habitat III offered a unique opportunity to discuss the
important challenges of how cities, towns, and village can be planned and
managed, in order to fulfill their role as drivers of sustainable development,
and how they can shape the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
and the Paris Agreement on climate change.