Sharif, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-Habitat

　　Speech on World Cities Day 2023

　　Dear Global Citizens,

　　Our global economy is facing multiple shocks and crises. Along with the escalating climate emergency, people all over the world are faced with the rising cost of living, lack of affordable and adequate housing, as well as poor basic services.

　　Hundreds of millions of people are anxious about their present and future security, dignity, and livelihoods.

　　Progress towards achieving sustainable and just development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals has stalled. This is felt even more strongly in the developing world.

　　We need a new financing framework for sustainable urban development to reverse this trend. We also need to invest in integrated planning and turbocharge our commitment to shelter and housing as a human right.

　　Things might seem impossible, but I am always optimistic. I believe in turning IMPOSSIBLE into I’M Possible. Cities and human settlements, big or small, are our hope. We can unlock the opportunities they offer and create the conditions for growth and recovery. Time and time again, cities have risen to the challenge and demonstrated their resilience.

　　Half of the world is now urban. There is no stopping this mega-trend. By adapting our cities and finding in them the resources and talent we need, we can upscale the solutions we need to ensure no one and no place is left behind.

　　The price tag for not achieving SDG11 is too high. Informal settlements would expand in poorer regions, millions would be pushed into extreme poverty and out of their homes, and climate disasters would trigger additional urban crises.

　　It is important to flip the script and change our narrative about cities. The time for action is now. We need to invest in our urban future. We need a new financing framework to unleash the potential of our cities.

　　This World Cities Day, let’s pledge to better finance our cities!

　　Happy World Cities Day 2023!

　　Contributed by UN-Habitat Information Office in China

　　World Cities Day is the United Nations' first international day with the theme of cities. It is also the first international day initiated and successfully established by the Chinese government. It comes from the initiatives in the "Shanghai Declaration" released at the Shanghai World Expo Summit Forum on October 31, 2010.

　　On October 28, the 2023 World Cities Day China home event opened, and the Global Sustainable City Award (Shanghai Award) was awarded for the first time.

　　This year's global home event of World Cities Day was held in Istanbul, Turkey, with the theme of "Gathering Resources to Build a Sustainable Urban Future." In the tenth anniversary of World Cities Day, this year, for the first time, the Global Sustainable City Awards (Shanghai Awards) were awarded to five cities including Fuzhou in China, Kampala in Uganda, and George Town in Penang, Malaysia.

　　Shanghai currently implements the concept of "people's city" in terms of sustainable urban development, carries out urban renewal, and adheres to the principle of "conservation, renovation and demolition" simultaneously. Through measures such as "restoring the old as before," Shanghai will achieve urban development transformation and improve people's quality of life on the basis of protecting the historical context.

　　The 2023 version of the "Shanghai Manual" and the Shanghai Index Comprehensive Index were also released at the opening ceremony. The manual includes 24 cases from 14 countries, involving circular economy, green finance and other contents. It aims to explore urban synergy from the perspective of international cooperation and provide financing guidelines for sustainable urban development. In addition, the World Cities Day China home event also carried out a series of forums, exhibitions and theme inspections, and the third Urban Sustainable Development Conference was also held simultaneously.