KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 4
World Habitat Day was marked today with various programmes highlighting the theme for this year's World Habitat Day – accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world.
The celebration of this day started from the first Monday of October since 1986 at the call of the UN Habitat, with the objective of drawing global attention to the need to promote sustainable urban development by guaranteeing appropriate habitat for all.
Cities are responsible for some 70 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban greenhouse gas emissions.
The future of our planet depends on national, regional and local governments and organisations, communities, academic institutions, the private sector and all relevant stakeholders working together to create sustainable, carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns.
World Habitat Day amplifies the global Race to Zero Campaign and UN-Habitat's Climate Action 4 Cities and encourage local governments to develop actionable zero-carbon plans in the run up to the international climate change summit COP26 in November.
In Nepal, the World Habitat Day was observed from government and non-government sectors from 2001, the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction stated.
Coordinator of the World Habitat Day Preparation Main Committee Nepal, Bishnu Prasad Sharma said the Goal 1.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has set the target of achieving inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and the theme of this year's the World Habitat Day is aligned with the UN Habitat's Climate Action 4.
Sharma said all the three tiers of the government should pay attention to the promotion of environment-friendly urban development.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 5, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
