The goal of these Guiding Principles is to inform pragmatic strategies and propose a Framework for Action to build an enabling environment for more inclusive and functional urban-rural linkages. The principles are flexible and can be applied by all levels of stakeholders at all scales.

While the principles are designed for universal application, there are distinct roles and actions appropriate for national or local governments, civil society, the private sector and international organizations. In addition, they can be applied in varying national contexts; for example, where there is a concern about the rate of urbanization and rural transformation, or the degree of diversity in the population.

The Guiding Principles are to help address the complexity of aligning different levels of governance (national, territorial and local) while recognizing unique local contexts and multiple possibilities for implementation. Urban-rural linkages that advance integrated territorial development are not only about a collection of separate subnational regions, but are also about systems of cities at national and even across national to regional levels.

正如这本新版的《世界城市状况报告》所指出的，“城市分化”的概念提供了一个理论框架，这个框架令理解当今的城市、尤其是发展中国家和地区城市的现实，成为了可能。从更实际的观点看，这个概念强调了分化的四个关键方面—社会、经济、政治和文化，它们在当今世界很多城市中起着作用。

The transitional European countries are now in different stages of their transition to prosperous, just and democratic societies.As we look at the challenges of the future, The State of European Cities in Transition 2013 offers insight and analysis to inform and enlighten. Also view the Russian Version and the Abridged Version.

With 80% of its population living in cities, Latin America and the Caribbean is the most urbanized region on the planet. Located here are some of the largest and best-known cities, like Mexico City, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Bogota, Lima and Santiago. The region also boasts hundreds of smaller cities that stand out because of their dynamism and creativity. This edition of State of Latin American and Caribbean cities presents the current situation of the region's urban world, including the demographic, economic, social, environmental, urban and institutional conditions in which cities are developing. Also available in Spanish Version.

城市与气候变化》一书审视了城市化与气候变化之间的联系、气候变化对于城市人口潜在的毁灭性 影响以及城市地区采取的应对政策和行动。全世界现在有超过半数的人口居住在城市中，城市化和气候变化的交汇有可能对经济、生活质量和社 会稳定造成前所未有的负面影响。然而，与这些威胁同时出现的还有一系列同样不可抗拒的机遇。人口、工业、基础设施以及社会和文化活动的集中，让城市成为了 创新的熔炉，这些创新也包括制定出减少温室 气体排放的方法、改善应对机制、降低对气候变化影响的脆弱性等等。联合国人类住区规划署（联合国人居署）是城市问题的世界权威机构，它的这份最新报告阐述 了城市 应该如何改善它们的运营方式以更好的应对气候变化，并为加强城市在解决气候变化问题上的作用提出了一些切实可行的对策。《全球人类住区报告 2011》是有关全球人类住区状况和趋势的一份最新、最权威的评估。该报告的前几期讨论的议题包括全球化世界中的城市、贫民窟的挑战、为城市住房筹措资 金、加强 城市安全与保障以及规划可持续的城市等等。    

In the vast majority of countries land and housing affordability is a critical contemporary challenge. While in different countries and regions the specificities of the challenge vary, the universal truism is that it is becoming increasing difficult for the vast majority of urban residents to obtain and retain adequate and affordable land and housing. This series canvases the state of affordable land and housing in four regions facing major affordability difficulties: Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, and Europe and North America (member countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). Each volume firstly explores the major trends in housing conditions, availability, quality and tenure modalities.

Following this, each volume analyses housing policy responses to address growing affordability problems and the improvement of substandard housing conditions. Lastly, key recommendations for local, national and international policy initiatives that can increase the provision of affordable housing in the respective regions is provided.

《加强城市安全与保障 全球人类住区报告2007》分析了对城市安全和保障造成威胁的三个主要问题，分别是：城市犯罪与暴力，房屋／土地保有权缺乏保障和强制驱逐，以及自然和人为灾害。报告分析了世界范围内这些问题存在的条件和发展趋势，着力强调了它们的潜在成因及影响，并列举了在城市、国家和全球层面行之有效的政策和措施。报告从人类安全的角度出发，关注人类的安全与保障问题而非国家安全问题，而且这些问题可以通过有效的城市政策、规划、设计及治理措施得到解决。

融资城市住房提出了住房融资系统的第一次全球性的评估，将宏观经济政策的总体框架内住房和城市发展的挑战。该报告描述和分析了住房融资状况和发展趋势，在世界所有地区，包括正式的住房金融机构，小额贷款和社会资金，突出其相关贫民窟的升级。在住房金融领域近期政策变化是在国际和国家层面进行讨论。该报告还审查可以采取加强住房融资系统，特别是关于实现改善贫民窟居民生活的千年宣言目标的政策方向。