100 Cities Initiative

9 November 2011

Half the world’s population live in cities. By 2030 this figure will rise to 70%. Most cities will find it difficult to adapt to this pace of urban growth.

Some 2 billion people are likely to reside in substandard housing and slums. Many will lack access to clean water, sanitation, education, health and decent and productive work.

Cities already consume 70% of total energy output, generate 80% of all waste and contribute to 60% of GHG emissions. At the same time they are the primary victims of climate change.

How we plan, build and manage our cities now, will determine the outcome of our efforts to achieve more sustainable and harmonious development tomorrow.

The purpose of the 100 Cities Initiative is “to promote and reinforce the attitudes, actions and policies that will enable governments and civil society to create and maintain,

sustainable urban conditions” and was the Outcome of the 2nd Steering Committee meeting of the World Urban Campaign, Paris, December 2009.

The 100 Cities initiative is one of the United Nations World Urban Campaign’s first building blocks. The 100 Cities Initiative is a forum for the best stories of change in cities that all aim for a smarter urban future.

Like the European Green Capital Award, it seeks to share innovative urban practices by encouraging and mobilising people, communities, municipal officials, service providers and political leaders of any city to tell their story about how they are striving to get closer to the ideal of sustainable urban development.

– The 100 Cities Initiative website
– The 100 Cities Initiative reports
– The 100 Cities Initiative Flyer
– The 100 Cities Initiative Nomination Form
– The 100 Cities Initiative Video