World Cities Day

World Cities Day is around the world on October 31st to inform the population about global urbanization and to unite for the sustainable development of cities. Various institutions, activists, and movements reveal inequality in the largest metropolitan areas and promote social inclusion.

History

World Cities Day was founded by the United Nations in 2013, and since then, many issues have been addressed. The first cities appeared in Mesopotamia around 7500 BC, examples include Ur, Uruk, and Eridu, which were founded due to the need for more fertile soil to cultivate. According to UN forecasts for 2030, there will be 41 megacities with a population of about 10 million people, mostly in India and the Congo.

Interesting facts

• Mexico City was once the capital of the Aztecs and had a different name – Tenochtitlan. During this period, 300,000 people lived there.
• The first skyscraper was erected in Chicago – the Home Insurance Building, with 10 floors and a height of 42 meters.
• Baghdad was once not just the capital of Iraq, but of the entire Muslim world.
• In the Finnish city of Helsinki, sidewalks are heated from below, so they never see snow.

How to take part

Learn about the history of the emergence of different cities – there are many interesting facts about how and by whom they were built! Analyze the problems of modern cities and think about how communities can solve them. Share the information you’ve learned today with your loved ones and discuss ways to make cities more sustainable.

When is World Cities Day in 2024?

World Cities Day is observed on October 31 each year.

Observations