Context:
UN-Habitat released World Cities Report 2024: Cities and Climate Action
Key Findings:
- Cities are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and are highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
- Over 2 billion urban residents could face an additional temperature rise of at least 0.5°C by 2040.
- Funding Gap – Cities require $4.5-5.4 trillion annually for climate-resilient infrastructure, but current funding is only $831 billion.
- Green Space Decline -Urban green spaces have decreased from 20% in 1990 to 14% in 2020.
- Impact on Vulnerable Populations – Some climate initiatives, like “green gentrification,” have displaced low-income communities
- Green gentrification – Refers to the process where environmental greening or improvement of green spaces in a neighbourhood leads to increased property values and rents, attracting wealthier residents and displacing lower-income or politically disenfranchised residents
- Recommendations –
- Revenue Generation – Utilize debt, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and climate finance instruments.
- Urban Planning – Integrate climate action into urban development plans.
- Local Adaptation – Support locally-led climate adaptation efforts to build resilience.
- Social Protection – Enhance social protection programs and adopt nature-based solutions to mitigate climate shocks.
UN Habitat:
- A global programme for Urban development that promotes sustainable human settlements.
- Mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all.
- Headquarters – Nairobi, Kenya
- Important documents – Vancouver Declarataion on Human Settlements and Istanbul Declaration on Human Settlements
- Publications/Reports –
- The State of the World’s Cities
- The Global Report on Human Settlements
- New Urban Agenda
- Sustainable Development Goals and Urban Local Bodies – The Future We Want
Source: UN Habitat
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. ‘Right to the City’ is an agreed human right and the UN-Habitat monitors the commitments made by each country in this regard.
2. ‘Right to the City’ gives every occupant of the city the right to reclaim public spaces and public participation in the city.
3. ‘Right to the City’ means that the State cannot deny any public service or facility to the unauthorized colonies in the city.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is not correct: Though, the right to the city was at the heart of the New Urban Agenda agreed upon at Habitat III, it is not an agreed human right.