World Habitat Day 2024: Empowering youth for sustainable & prosperous cities
The day has been commemorated since 1986, following a call by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
KATHMANDU: Today is World Habitat Day, which aims to promote sustainable urban development and ensure adequate housing for all. Various programs are being observed globally to mark the occasion.
The day has been commemorated since 1986, following a call by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
According to the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, World Habitat Day has been celebrated in Nepal since 2001 through the joint efforts of government and non-governmental organizations.
As announced by the World Habitat Day 2081 Main Preparation Committee, this year’s World Habitat Day is being marked under the theme “Productive Youth: Prosperous Cities.” To highlight the day, the Ministry of Urban Development, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, and UN-Habitat have organized a key event.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11, emphasize inclusive and sustainable urbanization.
To align with these goals, the Ministry and the Department are implementing various programs to foster sustainable urbanization and a thriving economy.
These initiatives include the Integrated Urban Development Program, Regional Urban Development Project, Urban Corridor Project, and the New Town Development Project, which aim to develop socio-economic infrastructure across different local levels.
This year’s theme places emphasis on mobilizing the youth towards building prosperous cities.
In this regard, a workshop has been organized where experts will present papers on relevant topics, as per the Department’s statement.
Several organizations, including Housing Company Limited, UN-Habitat, the Town Development Fund, and various municipalities, are also holding a range of activities to mark the day.
Based on this year’s theme, technical sessions and discussions focusing on various aspects of the urban economy have been scheduled.
According to the National Census 2078, 66.17% of Nepal’s population resides in municipalities, and the urban sector contributes 76.1% to the national economy, according to the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction.
