CAIRO – The United Nations launched on Tuesday the “World Cities Report 2024” on the sidelines of the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), currently in session in Cairo.
Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Anacláudia Rossbach said: “Knowledge is the cornerstone of effective climate action, and the insights we gather today are critical in shaping future frameworks like the forthcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities.”
The World Cities Report 2024 serves as a testament to the importance of integrating urban realities into climate discussions, she said, adding “As we prepare for COP29, we are committed to leveraging knowledge to inform strategies that resonate with both local and global efforts”.
“The report calls for a sharper urban focus to advance ambitious national commitments. It highlights the importance of aligning climate action with broader development goals, such as improved services, settlement upgrading, poverty reduction, and public health,” she said.
She added “The report further calls for integrated climate considerations across sectors to support cities in making effective, lasting investments for sustainable development.”
The report also stresses the need for climate action to be participatory and community-led. It calls for locally appropriate solutions that address the specific needs of residents, particularly in informal settlements and low-income neighborhoods, where communities have often been excluded from decision-making.
The new United Nations report focuses on the looming crises of climate change and rapid urbanization.
The pressures of poorly managed growth have resulted in the steady attrition of green space in many urban areas, with the average share in urban areas worldwide falling from 19.5 per cent in 1990 to 13.9 percent in 2020, according to UN-Habitat’s World Cities Report.
The World Cities Report: Cities and Climate Action coincides with the 12th session of the World urban Forum, the premier global conference on sustainable urban development.
The event, held in Cairo from November 4 to 8, is convened by UN-Habitat and co-organized with the Egyptian government.
