The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day, and this year it is celebrated on October 3, 2011 and the Global Celebration is hosted by the Government of Mexico.
Vice President Boediono on the occasion stressed on the importance of city management to reduce the impact of global climate change.
"The cities around the world are the sources of emission and climate change, and therefore we want to mitigate and avoid it," the vice president said.
He added that the cities were also the first victims of global warming and so the application of environmentally-friendly green technology was absolutely necessary.
"Next step we have to introduce clear energy and cleaner technology in the cities and residential areas," the vice president said.
UN-HABITAT in its official website said the idea was to reflect on the state and towns and cities and the basic right of all, to adequate shelter.
"It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat," said the UN-HABITAT.
The United Nations chose the theme "Cities and Climate Change" because climate change is fast becoming the preeminent development challenge of the 21st century.
Indeed, no-one today can really foresee the predicament in which a town or city will find itself in 10, 20 or 30 years time. In this new urban era with most of humanity now living in towns and cities, we must bear in mind that the greatest impacts of disasters resulting from climate change begin and end in cities," it said, adding that the cities too have a great influence on climate change.
(Uu.O001/H-NG/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
