UN-Habitat and the Dubai Municipality offer you an opportunity for global recognition of your Best Practice through the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment. Best Practices are outstanding contributions to improve the living environment and defined as successful initiatives which:

The transport sector is a vital enabler of economic activity and social connectivity, but is also the second largest and one of the fastest growing energy end-use sectors, representing 23% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. The bulk of energy used by the transport sector (about two-thirds) is accounted for by passenger transport while the rest is consumed by freight transport. According to the International Energy Agency, greater uptake of electric vehicles will form an important part of a low-carbon technology pathway for transport (IEA 2012).

Nairobi, 12 May 2014: Cities interested in hosting the Ninth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in 2018 have been invited to register their official expression of interest to the convening body, UN-Habitat.

In the first stage of the transparent bidding process that will be finalised by January 2015, cities interested in hosting the international conference are urged to send in an initial expression of interest before the end of May 2014.

Madrid, 12 May 2014: In collaboration with Barcelona City Council, UN-Habitat recently organized two Experts Group Meetings in Madrid and Barcelona on National Urban Policies and on Sustainable Urban Mobility, respectively.

The meetings were held under the framework of the Project “Towards a New urban Agenda” which is building debate and consensus in the run up to the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, Habitat III, which will be held in 2016.

Adapting & Mitigating Climate Change: Options for Cities Amsterdam and Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1-4, September 2014.

Nairobi 9 May 2014—The partnership between UN-Habitat and The Coca-Cola company which seeks to promote water sustainability in selected countries around the world has been expanded to twelve after South Sudan signed up as a member of the initiative. Started in 2007,the “Golden Triangle Partnership for clean and safe water”, provides improved access to clean drinking water, sanitation and techniques that harvest groundwater and rainwater.

UN-Habitat regrets to confirm the death of one of our colleagues, Ms Daphna Beerdsen,on the night of Sunday 27 April 2014 at her residence in Phnom Penh. Her partner, Mr Joris Oele, is currently an international consultant with UN-Habitat working in Cambodia.

Ms Beerdsen was killed in an attack at her home, the details of which are still under police investigation. The couple’s daughter, who was also injured in the attack, has been medically evacuated to Thailand where she is receiving treatment.

Brussels, 24 April 2014: The important relation between public space and culture and the significance that it has for people, prosperity and peace were strongly emphasised at the fourth European Union-Africa Summit that took place earlier this month.

Equity as a foundation of sustainable urban development.

We, the participants of theSeventh World Urban Forum — governments, private sector, international organizations, academia, professionals and civil society — reaffirm our commitment to integrate urban equity into the development agenda, employing all means and resources available to ensure that cities are transformed into inclusive, safe, prosperous and harmonious spaces for all. As a matter of urgency, we must take action, collectively and individually, to bring the benefits of sustainable urban development to all.

Medellin 11 April 2014—A record 22,000 people had attended the Seventh Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF7) as it came to a close in Medellin Colombia on Friday evening with many describing it as the best ever Forum so far.