On the morning of October 17, 2016, the UN Habitat III Conference was opened at the Cultural Center of Quito, with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Delgado presiding over the opening ceremony of the Conference.
In his opening speech for Habitat III, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pointed out that more than half of the world's population now lives in cities. Urban areas are expanding rapidly, especially in developing countries. But this expansion is often unplanned. At the same time, nearly a quarter of urban dwellers live in slums or informal settlements. The number of poor and vulnerable people among them is growing. Their very existence is in a precarious situation. To meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development's commitment to leave no one behind, we must address the stigmatization and exclusion of people living in poverty. Cities have a huge role to play in related actions. While cities should drive growth, they should also be central hubs for diversity, inclusion, and innovation. This Habitat III Conference will formally adopt a landmark outcome document, the New Urban Agenda, which is an integral part of the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and an action-oriented document. It will set a global standard for the future of sustainable urban development and help us rethink how we build and manage cities and how we live in them.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the opening of Habitat III, September 2010
Mr. Peter Thomson (1948-), President of the United Nations General Assembly, said that urbanization is a global trend, but climate change and war have a great impact on the lives of urban dwellers. Cities have become the center of political, economic and cultural activities of human society. The opportunities offered by cities have attracted nearly 4 billion people worldwide to live there. By 2050, 60 to 70 percent of the world's population will be urban dwellers. According to Thomson, the current level of urban planning has not kept pace with urban growth, and many city dwellers live in conditions that lack water and electricity and are dirty. About 75 percent of urban dwellers live in poverty, widening the gap between rich and poor in cities. 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and a large amount of waste are generated by cities. If we do not take positive action to address climate change, the future of human urban life will be greatly affected.
The opening ceremony of Habitat III (from left to right: Secretary General Juan Carlos, Minister of Urban Development and Housing of Ecuador Maria Duarte, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of the UN General Assembly Peter Thomson, Mayor of Quito Mauricio Rodas)
President Correa of Ecuador said that the objectives of the New Urban Agenda and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are consistent, and both advocate putting people first, eliminating inequality and reducing poverty. He suggested that local governments have direct responsibility for building sustainable cities and should have some financial autonomy.
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Translated by Chen Yan
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