UN-HABITAT has released the World Cities Report 2016, Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures, an analysis of urban development over the past twenty years. The report demonstrates that the current approach to urbanization is not sustainable for future healthy communities and environments, and urges the creation of a New Urban Agenda to build on the successes, and face the challenges of implementation of the Habitat Agenda adopted in 1996.

Governments and all decision-makers are called upon to innovate and use the positive, transformative power of cities and urbanisation to their advantage. The report recommendations form a pathway for the development of cities to meet the necessary housing, equality and emissions standards, and utilise the right methods to monitor and regulate this process. This includes population growth and the implications for social equality and housing as an integral part of city planning, along with a human rights approach to urban environment driven by united multi-level governments, to achieve low-carbon cities and urban resilience.

The Habitat III Conference to be held in July 2016, will establish the New Urban Agenda, forming strong links with complementary international agreements including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Read the World Cities Report 2016 and supporting information on the website.