STORY: UN-Habitat assembly wraps up with resolve to revitalize new urban agenda
DATELINE: June 10, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:48
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the United Nations Habitat assembly

STORYLINE:

The second session of the United Nations Habitat assembly ended Friday with delegates resolving to inject fresh impetus into ongoing efforts to renew cities that host more than 50 percent of the global population.

Kenya hosted the June 6-9 assembly themed "A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the sustainable development goals in times of global crises."

The assembly, which also featured high-level dialogues, panel discussions, themed side events and exhibitions, sought to recalibrate the new global urban agenda amid multiple global challenges like the climate crises, negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, economic slowdown and geopolitical tensions.

"The second session of the UN-Habitat assembly was a true demonstration of effective and efficient multilateralism in action," said Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) at a media briefing.

She said that a resolution on affordable housing that was endorsed by all delegates was a landmark achievement of the assembly, adding that governments will now embed access to decent shelter in their human rights charters.

According to Sharif, UN member states will be obligated to set up mechanisms for accelerating the implementation of universal access to the shelter by leveraging innovative financing as well as policy and regulatory incentives.

Rafael Tuts, the director of UN-Habitat's Global Solutions Division, said the assembly set the momentum for reengineering global metropolises to make them liveable, greener, inclusive and resilient.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)