The World Cities Day Program Took Place

This year’s program to mark the Oct. 31 World Cities Day, an initiative celebrated annually by UN-Habitat in varying cities, was hosted by the Üsküdar Municipality in Istanbul. The focal theme for the program centered on ‘Financing a sustainable urban future for everyone’. 

Dr. Mehmet Duman, the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the World Academy of Local Government and Democracy (WALD), participated in the program, alongside notable figures such as First Lady Emine Erdoğan, Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Mehmet Özhaseki, Union of Municipalities of Türkiye President Yücel Yılmaz, Üsküdar Mayor Hilmi Türkmen, UN-Habitat Deputy Secretary General and Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Dong Jianguo, Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban Development of the People's Republic of China, Azman Mokhtar from the Malaysian Pilgrim Fund, and Emilia Siaz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).

First Lady Erdoğan defined cities as "a product of the journey of civilization", highlighting their role in uniting people and as a tangible reflection of shared culture and civilization. Addressing the rapid surge in urbanization, she expressed that a considerable population will reside in cities by 2050. Erdoğan underscored the immense power held by cities in combating challenges arising from the climate crisis, advocating for the construction of cities fostering sustainability, justice, and prosperity.

In a video message, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the pivotal role of cities in attaining carbon-neutral objectives, commending Türkiye’s efforts in achieving the targets under the Zero Waste, an initiative spearheaded by Emine Erdoğan. Guterres highlighted the potential of circular economy models and expressed hope for the success of the upcoming Zero Waste Advisory Board meeting.

UN-Habitat Deputy Secretary-General Maimunah Mohd Sharif, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, emphasized the global responsibility in combatting climate change for a sustainable future. Sharif asserted that collective action is paramount to bequeathing a more habitable world to forthcoming generations.

As part of WALD's initiatives, efforts are underway to localize the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization is actively engaged in activities aimed at establishing resilient, sustainable cities, and combating climate change.