UN chief urges efforts to promote sustainable development of cities
United Nations: In celebrating World Cities Day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday that cities are pivotal in promoting sustainable development, economic growth, and innovation.
“World Cities Day is a time to consider the pivotal role cities play in sustainable development,” he said, adding that cities are not just economic powerhouses but also on the cutting edge of addressing global urgencies.
The top UN official said cities are confronted with an array of intricate challenges ranging from climate change to increasing social disparities and political divisions.
Today, urban living has already been embraced by more than half of the world’s population, and the United Nations Human Settlements Program projections indicate that nearly 70 percent of people will live in cities by 2050.