World Habitat Day: Resilient Urban Communities

Cities accommodate more than half of the global population and contribute to over 80% of the global GDP. These urban areas have been the engine of economic growth and innovation over the years. However, our cities are not without their own challenges.

World Habitat Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable urban development and to advocate for policies that promote resilient urban economies and an inclusive environment for everyone.

And the theme for this year is "Resilient urban economies. Cities as drivers of growth and recovery." The goal is for us to live in cities that are sustainable and can withstand economic shocks and crises.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Global Economic Growth this year is declining slowly to about 2.5% and this is the weakest growth experienced since 2001 apart from the COVID-19 crisis and the global financial crisis in 2009.

This decline is due to several factors such as:

1. Climate Change: Cities are more vulnerable to unplanned disasters and extreme weather conditions due to the instability of the climate.
2. Rapid urbanization: The rate at which cities are growing is putting a strain on the existing infrastructure and services.
3. Inequality: The wide gap between the rich and the poor in several cities of the world is also a leading cause of economic instability.
4. Housing costs: Housing is an ever-growing sector in cities and the high cost of it is making it difficult for people to live in the vicinity where they work.
5. Transportation: Traffic congestion to environmental pollution are major problems in cities as compared to other forms of settlement.

These are, however, just some of the challenges that cities are standing up against.

And sometimes, these challenges can be interconnected. For instance, climate change can lead to increased inequality, as the poorest and most vulnerable people are usually the most affected by its impacts.

Despite these challenges, cities are also places of tremendous opportunity. They are home to the world's most innovative entrepreneurs. They are also the centres of culture and creativity.

Here are things that can be done by government bodies, non-profit organizations and individuals to address the challenges facing our cities:

1. Investing in sustainable urban development: 

The Government needs to invest in infrastructure and services to keep up with the growth of the city. These include public transportation, renewable energy, electricity, water and so on. Doing this will cushion the effects of rapid urbanization.

2. Promoting inclusive economic growth: 

This includes the diversification of the economy and pushing for policies that encourage entrepreneurship and create jobs for all.

3. Building resilient communities:

This includes making sure that housing, education, healthcare, sanitation and other social safety nets are accessible to all.

4. Volunteering: 

This is an individual role that you can play towards sustainable urban development. You can volunteer your time to a local organization that is working to improve the lives of people in your community.

On today's World Habitat Day, we hope that you decide to be a part of the efforts to make our cities inclusive, resilient and safe for people all over the world.

— Fiyinfoluwa Bamgbose