First Global Observance of World Cities Day in Russia focuses on innovation to improve lives

Ekaterinburg, Russia, 31 October 2019

The first ever Global Observance of World Cities Day in Russia attracted over 650 participants from more than 40 countries to explore how innovations can improve the lives of urban residents now and in the future.

 During the high level opening session, UN-Habitat’s Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif said innovation was often born in cities and should be used to improve life for everyone.

The Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation Vladimir Yakushev made a call to unite their efforts and creativity to transform cities.

The Mayor of Ekaterinburg Aleksandr Vysokinkiy pointed out that technology “is a tool not target, and the future of a city depends on its population”.

The Head of the United Nations Information Centre in Moscow Vladimir Kuznetsov read the statement of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutérres, which declared that the climate battle would be won or lost in cities.

After the high level opening there were presentations and discussions on the various themes with participation of the youth, followed by a live link to World Cities Day celebrations in Bilbao (Spain), Istra (Moscow region) and the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

Within the programme of events in Ekaterinburg the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT had several meetings with senior officials of the Ministry of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Russian Federation and Councils of the Russian cities during which a wide discussion on the bilateral cooperation agenda was held.