World Cities Day

The United Nations has designated every 31 October as World Cities Day. The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 27 December 2013, on the report of the Second Committee (A/68/439):

"Taking note of the report of the Governing Council of UN-Habitat on its twenty-fourth session, held from 15 to 19 April 2013, and its resolutions contained therein, in particular resolutions 24/1 on World Cities Day, 24/4 on gender equality and women’s empowerment to contribute to sustainable urban development, 24/5 on pursuing sustainable development through national urban policies, 24/7, entitled “Making slums history: a worldwide challenge”, 24/10 on urbanization and sustainable urban development in the post-2015 development agenda, and 24/14 on inputs for and support to the preparatory process of the United Nations conference on housing and sustainable urban development (Habitat III), all of 19 April 2013,

decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day, invites States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organizations, civil society and all other relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day, and stresses that the costs of all activities that may arise from observing the Day should be met from voluntary contributions..."

The first World Cities Day was commemorated on 31 October 2014. It was hosted by Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, China and UN-Habitat.