The Annual Report 2023 of the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section of UN-Habitat showcases the work done in the past year to work towards and support the achievement of the main goal of sustainable urban development.

Much has been achieved by PLGS: more than 44 activities in over 37 countries globally, that consolidated collaboration with donors, development partners and beneficiary countries along the themes of policy, legislation and governance, metropolitan management,…

As countries prepare to revise their NDCs ahead of COP30, the analysis summarized in this technical brief shows: which countries have the biggest potential to work towards stronger integration of urban content in their NDCs; how they can reap co-benefits of sustainable urban development, effective local adaptation measures, and reducing emissions by stronger collaboration with local governments.

The Jordan National Urban Policy follows a proactive approach, viewing urbanization not as a burden but as a chance to enhance the economy, address climate change, and improve the overall quality of life. Prioritizing principles of participation, efficiency, human rights, and resilience, it envisions inclusive, sustainable communities through strategically planned growth in diverse locations.

This report summarizes the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change held at COP28 on 6 December 2023. This key event, co-hosted by UN-Habitat, the High-Level Climate Champions, and the COP28 Presidency, brought together over 1,000 people including around 60 ministerial representatives and reflects a collective commitment to tackling climate change's complexities within urban contexts.

Water is the basis for life, and meeting water supply demand is a global challenge, particularly in developing countries. In 2020, it was estimated that two billion people lived in water-stressed regions with no access to a safely managed drinking water service on premises, available when needed and free of contamination. This condition is expected to worsen in some regions due to climate change and rapid population growth. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2020 estimates that…

This collection showcases Nature-based Solutions tailored for the unique challenges posed by seasonal rivers within contexts of protracted displacement, particularly within the arid and semi-arid landscapes of East Africa. Drawing on traditional practices, it champions resilience by advocating for spatial planning and design strategies to foster sustainable land and resource management with parallel avenues for economic development and livelihood enhancement.

This publication starts with a description of the country’s overall natural hazard exposure and then focuses on human settlements’ vulnerability in Mozambique (Chapter 1). In Chapter 2 it describes the first milestone of UN-Habitat’s activities - the establishment of the Living with Natural Hazards approach - and its implementation through pilot demonstration buildings. It also gives examples of the construction interventions and methodology adopted in the Participation, Awareness and Didactic…

As China's economy develops and urbanization accelerates, the urban population
continues to increase. By the end of 2022, China's urbanization rate will reach 65.22%.
As a result, the total amount of waste generated in the process of urban production
and living also grows gradually over the years, and the coverage of waste collection
and management continues to improve, with the composition of the waste and the
treatment system becoming more and…

The Dadaab Regeneration Strategy promotes economic growth, sustainability, self-reliance, and integration of hosts and refugees in Garissa County, Kenya’s new Dadaab and Bura Municipalities. It offers a path to overcoming economic, environmental, and socio-cultural challenges through physical revitalisation, improved governance, and a transition away from traditional models of hosting refugees in camps.