The third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (HABITAT III) is an international conference of global importance. Every 20 years, under the aegis of the United Nations, the world’s national governments, NGOs, Civil Society and local stakeholders meet to develop a joint compact. This compact then informs national policies regarding key issues such as housing, urbanization and social equity for the next 20 years. Despite the fact that more than half of the world’s population already lives in cities, the process of urbanization continues to gain momentum. Every day, almost 250,000 people move to cities, some 75 million annually. This rate of urban expansion creates major challenges that call for inspired design and planning interventions. Design professionals must play a major role in developing sustainable and socially equitable solutions for these new cities.
This program is one of a series of preparatory events designed to help set the agenda for HABITAT III in 2016. Unlike many other events that deal with the same subject matter, this event will try to ensure that the role of design will be given appropriate prominence at HABITAT III. HABITAT III will provide a unique opportunity to focus the attention of world governments on the critical importance of a city-scale sustainable urbanization in planning for the future. The goal is to achieve an agreed-upon blueprint that will set the priorities for many countries for the next 20 years.
Habitat III: The Role of Design – A Path to Sustainable Urbanization from Center for Architecture on Vimeo.