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WHD CONCEPT NOTE

for carbon-neutrality and a Programme’ to basic services and social and
better ecological future for allow provinces and economic opportunities,
cities. How countries arrive municipalities to access and to remember that we
at their climate strategy will federal funding to all have the power and the
vary, but these investments undertake a range of responsibility to shape the
provide a basis for countries, local projects, such as future of our cities and towns,
cities and communities to upgrading schools and and to promote sustainable
commit more effectively hospitals to investing urban development policies.
to renewable energy, in green spaces and The theme of World Habitat
sustainable production and cycling lanes, to Day 2021 is Accelerating
consumption patterns, and “support longer-term urban action for a carbon-free
better management of natural goals of sustainable, world which is particularly
resources, food systems and economically healthy, relevant in light of the
waste. low-carbon, and upcoming COP-26, scheduled
inclusive communities”.
• Response and relief to take place in Glasgow, UK,
funding should be To be truly effective, from 1-12 November 2021. In
targeted to improve these changes need to be line with the World Habitat
basic services for the accompanied by a broader Day theme, UN-Habitat is
poor and for nature- shift in the way cities calling for cities to accelerate
based solutions and and neighbourhoods are urban climate action and in
ecosystem services that planned and managed with particular:
integrate blue, green and investments in infrastructure • In the run-up to COP-
grey infrastructure into leading to energy savings, 26, invites cities to join
regional open space and a reduction in greenhouse the Global “Race to
basic service networks, gas emissions and increased Zero” Campaign, as
helping regions enhance low-carbon mobility well as UN-Habitat’s
their climate resilience planning to promote a green #ClimateAction4Cities
and advance their socio- transition as outlined in UN- Campaign and to share
economic recovery. Habitat’s Report on Cities their solutions.
and Pandemics: Towards a
• Some national more just, green and healthy • Offers technical
governments have future. assistance and capacity
responded to the building support to
impacts of COVID-19 WORLD HABITAT DAY cities in planning and
by channelling financial 2021 implementing climate-
assistance through targeted actions
municipal governments Mandated by the General including planning
and communities, Assembly in 1985, World for more compact
providing much-needed Habitat Day is observed on and walkable cities,
funds while ensuring the first Monday of every support in enhancing
these are allocated to October, followed by events national building codes,
local needs and priorities. held worldwide throughout sustainable building and
For example, in Canada, ‘Urban October’. Its purpose construction practices,
the government has is to reflect on the state of our improving public and
amended the ‘Investing towns and cities, to recall the non-motorised transport,
in Canada Infrastructure right of all to adequate shelter, introducing electric

October 2021 Volume 22 No. 2 - SHELTER 47