7 million die each year from air pollution – more than malaria, TB & HIV/AIDS combined. Toxic air is the invisible killer in our cities. We know the solutions: green transport, urban forests, clean energy. Clean air is a right. Let’s make cities breathe again.

🌍 Is your city leading on zero waste?. Apply to be recognized as one of the 20 Zero Waste Cities—showcasing innovation, inclusiveness & sustainability on a global stage. 🗓 Deadline: 19 Sept 2025.📩 advisoryboard.zerowaste@un.org. #ZeroWaste #SustainableCities

Cities cover 2% of Earth’s land but use 78% of energy and cause 60%+ of emissions. Waste is rising faster than population. Going circular could cut CO₂ by 44% and save $2.7T a year – making cities resilient and climate-ready.

When cities close streets to cars - even for a few hours - magic happens. Cleaner air. Safer streets. More walking, cycling, and community life. From #Bogotá to #Kigali, the results are the same: healthier people, thriving local business, and cities that breathe again.

As the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum concludes, UN-Habitat thanks all partners for advancing knowledge exchange and collaboration on financing sustainable urbanisation and applying ASEAN’s planning tools. We’re proud to support ASEAN in building sustainable cities.

New @UNOSAT analysis shows 4 in 5 buildings in Gaza have been damaged since Oct 2023. 🏚 102K destroyed.🏚 282K+ homes uninhabitable.1.9M+ people remain displaced. Gaza’s urban devastation underscores a deepening global housing crisis. 📊 Read more:

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, former Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat and UN Assistant Secretary-General. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues worldwide. Her legacy will continue to inspire us.

Highlights from day 2 of ASUF: UN-Habitat highlighted inclusive governance, digital innovation & ASEAN’s urban frameworks—sharing how regional strategies are driving safer cities, digital transformation & participatory governance for sustainable, resilient futures.

🌍 From Nairobi’s Mathare settlement to the Andes mountains of Ecuador, young leaders are proving that the #SDGs come alive when driven by community-led change. Their message: you don’t need to wait for permission to create the future you want. 📖

UN-Habitat joined the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum 2025, engaging in high-level dialogues on ASEAN Vision 2045 and integrated planning for resilient futures—advancing collaboration to turn urban challenges into opportunities.

As Syria rebuilds after 14 years of conflict, Japan is partnering with UN-Habitat to improve informal settlements in Aleppo & Homs. The 2-year project will restore services, secure housing rights & support community recovery plans.

From #ClimateAction to reimagining public spaces, youth are turning the #SDGs into local realities. This #YouthDay celebrates their role in shaping inclusive, sustainable cities. 📹 Watch @AnacludiaRossb1 as she calls for real youth influence.

🚄 China’s high-speed rail went from <10k km in 2012 to 48k+ km in 2024. That’s 80+ major cities rewired into a national transit grid. Urban strategy in motion:.🏙️ 1-hr city clusters.🌱 CO₂ down, equity up.💼 Talent flows beyond coastlines. Infrastructure = future.

The future of #ClimateAction depends on young people’s leadership—especially where the urgency is greatest. With 42% of the world under 25, youth are driving the push for sustainable, equitable solutions. 🌍✊. Learn more:

Imagining better futures is a powerful tool. From AI-generated cities to climate scenarios, visualising what’s ahead helps people reflect, connect, and act. Research shows: when we can see the future, we’re more likely to shape it. Video: Buntes Amt für Zukunft in Nürnberg

By 2030, 3B people—over 40% of the world’s population—will require adequate housing. To meet that need, we’d have to build 96,000 homes everyday for the next 5 years. Explore the numbers, the possibilities, and the path forward. @guardian.

On this #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we celebrate the power of Indigenous knowledge in building climate-resilient cities. After Typhoon Rai, UN-Habitat and partners co-created a housing project with the Sama Bajau in Surigao City. ​🔗 Read the full story:

Transforming informal settlements is about upgrading with dignity. Think secure tenure, community-led planning, affordable housing, green infrastructure, and inclusive finance. Build with people, not around them.

"We feel that making sure people are housed in a way that is respectful, dignified and appropriate for where they are.". Hear more from William Macdonald, Barbados High Commissioner to Kenya on the importance of prioritizing adequate housing.

Video via Mohsen Shah.