World Habitat Day 2021 - History, Significance, Importance, World Habitat Day Theme and Facts

World Habitat Day 2021 is observed on the First Monday of October every year to raise awareness about the importance of achieving sustainable development simultaneously while providing shelter and basic amenities and improving the conditions of every human settlement. It is a day where one needs to introspect about the changes recurring in urban life and taking up responsibility for each other and see that no one is without shelter. It is all about sustainable development and peaceful co-existence, especially in urban areas. Read on to know more about World Habitat Day 2021, its History, and its importance.

Abhinaya M | Updated Oct 04, 2021 06:40 AM

World Habitat Day 2021 - History, Significance, Importance, World Habitat Day Theme and Facts

World Habitat Day 2021

World Habitat Day 2021 is observed on the First Monday of October every year. World Habitat Day was declared in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/202. World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 and from then on is commemorated on the First Monday of every October each year. World Habitat Day is observed to create awareness about our basic rights like shelter, food and clothing and also about our responsibilities towards improving the conditions of our neighborhoods. On this day, the UN conducts a number of events, activities, and discussions about sustainable development and the solutions towards achieving this.

What is the History of World Habitat Day?

World Habitat Day was declared first in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly after passing a resolution 40/202.  Later on it was first celebrated in the year 1986. This particular day is commemorated every first Monday of October each year by conducting a  number of events and activities and discussions on the sustainable development of our cities and urban dwellings. This day is to remind us to be self-disciplined and be responsible citizens and to make us aware that we have the power to change, improve and reshape the future of our cities and living conditions of our fellow human beings.

What is the Importance of World Habitat Day?

World Habitat Day is mainly intended to remind each of us about our rights for basic necessities and we have the power and the responsibility to make valuable contributions to make transformative changes in society for a better future and well being.  This day particularly focuses on improving all levels of partnership between Government and relevant stakeholders in successfully implementing policies and methods to ensure adequate and affordable homes to all.  World Habitat day is observed to bring in awareness about various self-sustainable measures like proper waste management, recycling of waste products.

World Habitat Day Theme 2019: Innovative Measures and Technology to convert wealth from waste.

The ultimate aim of this theme was to achieve sustainable development and improve the basic living conditions of people by implementing Innovative measures and technologies in areas like waste management and recycling of waste.  Enormous waste produced by human activity in any form solid-liquid or from any source domestic and commercial will have an alarming effect on our environment and planet which consequently will affect our future generations as well. Promoting this idea was to mainly achieve a healthy and sustainable society by making people adopt proper waste management and recycling of waste and also create a  basic awareness of maintaining hygiene and healthy life for themselves and future generations to come. To take the initiative of implementing innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, renewal energies,  robotics, electric vehicles can transform the social, economic, and environmental conditions of city dwellers. Technologies offer cheap and best and user-friendly solutions for handling of waste and water management.

World Habitat Day Theme 2020: Housing for all A better urban future

Housing is a basic human right. In the present scenario where social distancing and to remain at safe distance and maintaining good hygiene practice is just impossible without adequate housing. The absence of basic services and the prevalence of stress and unhealthy living conditions also contribute to poor health. People living in informal settlements and slum areas in populated countries are going to be the victims of the pandemic COVID 19. In the absence of proper primary health care centers and protective clothing and less access to medical care for women and children are the biggest uncertainties and crisis the world will have to face.

In the present pandemic situation, World Habitat Day 2020 will coordinate and share information to promote the idea of housing, shelter, and slum upgrading as most imperative to the functions of cities in meeting residents’ needs. The pandemic has created an awareness that cities and local governments around the world can move towards eliminating inequalities and poverty levels and providing access to basic amenities like shelter,  food water for all.

World Habitat Day Theme 2021: Accelerating Urban Action For A Carbon-Free World.

The World Habitat Day 2021 theme is accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world. Cities are accountable for some 70 per cent of worldwide CO2 emissions, with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for most urban gas emissions. Earth's future depends on national governments and organizations, associations, academic organizations, the private sector and all relevant stakeholders working together to make sustainable, carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns. World Habitat Day will amplify the worldwide Race to Zero Campaign and UN-Habitat's ClimateAction4Cities and encourage local governments to develop actionable zero-carbon plans within the run-up to the international global climate change summit COP26 in November.

World Habitat Day: Facts

  • World Habitat Day was designated in 1985 by the UN General Assembly through Resolution 40/202, and was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right”.  Nairobi was the host city in1986.

  • Take forward its 2018 theme “Municipal Solid Waste Management'' which focused mainly on handling garbage, in the year 2019 the World Habitat Day stressed on valuable contributions of new and innovative technologies in the waste management process. World Habitat Day 2019 was observed in Mexico.

  • The event was primarily about the state of human settlements especially in urban areas and their right to sufficient shelter. It aims to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

  • World Habitat Day 2020 will be hosted by the city of Surabaya, in Indonesia.

World Habitat Day - Quotes and Messages

"Solutions begin with small steps individuals can take to alter the way our cities function. We must reduce the amount of waste we produce, and, at the same time, start seeing it as a valuable resource that can be re-used and recycled, including for energy." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Everyone in this world has a right to safe, decent, and affordable housing. 

Homes define our existence. They are an extension of who we are.

We must remember on this World Habitat Day that no matter where we go and what we do, home is always the best destination that we could ever have.

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World Habitat Day - FAQs

1. What is World Habitat Day and when is it celebrated?

World Habitat Day is observed to raise awareness about the importance of achieving sustainable development simultaneously while providing shelter and basic amenities and improving the conditions of every human settlement. It is celebrated on the first Monday of October every year.

2. When was it first declared and celebrated in which country?

World Habitat Day was declared first in 1985 by the United Nations General Assembly after passing a resolution 40/202.  Later on, it was first celebrated in the year 1986 in Nairobi.

3. What was the theme of First World Habitat Day?

 “Shelter is My Right” was the theme of the first World Habitat Day. It was conducted  in Nairobi in the year 1986

4. What is the theme of World Habitat Day 2020?

The theme of World Habitat Day 2020 is Housing for all - A better urban future. It aims to coordinate and share information at all levels with the concerned stakeholders to promote the idea of housing, shelter, and slum upgrading as central to the functions of cities in meeting residents’ needs.

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