Syllabus: GS-III & V: Urbanisation

Why in the News

Every year, the first Monday of October is observed as World Habitat Day, established by the United Nations in 1985 to remind humanity that adequate shelter is a basic human right and to reaffirm our collective responsibility in shaping sustainable urban futures.

In 2025, the theme is “Urban Crisis Response,” focusing on strengthening cities against multiple global crises — climate change, conflict, displacement, and inequality — that increasingly define 21st-century urban life.

Background and Evolution

• Declared by: United Nations General Assembly through Resolution a in December 1985.
• First observed: 1986, Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Shelter is My Right.”
• Key past themes:
  • Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future (2024)

Over the decades, World Habitat Day has evolved from focusing solely on housing to addressing broader urban challenges like sustainability, inclusivity, resilience, and social equity.

Global Urban Reality

1. Rapid Urbanisation

• According to the United Nations (2024):
  • 56% of the global population — 4.4 billion people — live in urban areas.
  • This figure is expected to rise to 68% by 2050.
• While urbanisation drives innovation and economic growth, it also leads to housing shortages, infrastructure strain, and service inequalities.
• In India, over 36% of the population lives in urban areas; this is projected to cross 40% by 2035, adding nearly 400 million new city dwellers.
• Assam context: Assam’s urban population is around 15%, with Guwahati, the state’s largest city, expanding rapidly due to migration and economic activity.
  

2. Housing Crisis

• Over 1.1 billion people live in slums or informal settlements, lacking access to clean water, sanitation, and secure housing.
• If trends continue, an additional 2 billion people could face inadequate housing by 2030.
• World Bank (2024) estimates a global housing shortfall of 300 million homes, requiring an investment of $16 trillion by 2030.
• Guwahati faces a severe housing affordability crisis, with nearly 35% of its population residing in informal/low-income settlements along hill slopes and riverbanks.
  

3. Climate Change and Urban Vulnerability

• Cities account for 70% of global carbon emissions and two-thirds of energy consumption.
• Over 800 million urban residents live in coastal zones, highly vulnerable to floods, sea-level rise, and cyclones.
• Unplanned growth has created “heat islands” — zones of high temperature and pollution affecting public health and productivity.
• Assam’s urban centres lie within the Brahmaputra floodplain, one of the world’s most hazard-prone regions.
• Guwahati experiences recurrent urban floods, triggered by intense rainfall and blocked drainage systems, while Dibrugarh and Dhubri face erosion and waterlogging.
  

4. Inequality and Displacement

• UNHCR (2024) reports over 120 million displaced persons globally — many migrating to urban areas seeking security and livelihoods.
• Women, children, and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity and lack of safe urban spaces.
• Migration from flood-affected rural districts and erosion-hit riverine areas (e.g., Majuli, Morigaon, Dhubri) has driven rural-to-urban migration, swelling Guwahati’s population.

Global Frameworks Supporting Habitat Goals

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
  • Targets focus on affordable housing, slum upgrading, and climate-resilient urban planning.

2. New Urban Agenda (Habitat III, Quito, 2016)

• Envisions cities that promote social inclusion, human rights, and environmental protection.
• Emphasizes participatory urban governance, gender equality, and resilience building.

3. UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour

• Recognizes individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions to housing and urban development.
• Past awardees include Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (for slum rehabilitation) and Brazil’s housing cooperatives.
  

Urban Crisis Response: The 2025 Theme Explained

The 2025 theme — “Urban Crisis Response” — reflects the complex, interconnected nature of today’s urban challenges.
Modern cities face compound risks:

• Climate disasters (floods, heatwaves, landslides)
• Conflict-induced displacement
• Public health emergencies (pandemics)
• Economic inequality and housing unaffordability

Urban resilience, therefore, must go beyond physical infrastructure — it must include institutional, social, and ecological resilience, ensuring cities can anticipate, absorb, and recover from crises.

Key Strategies for Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Futures

1. Affordable and Inclusive Housing

• Governments must adopt inclusive housing policies:
  
  • Promote low-cost housing and slum redevelopment with secure land tenure.
  • Implement rent control mechanisms and housing subsidies for vulnerable groups.
  • Examples:
    
    • India’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) aims for “Housing for All”.
    • Brazil’s Minha Casa Minha Vida promotes social housing through cooperatives.
      

2. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

• Integrate nature-based solutions: green roofs, urban forests, permeable pavements, and wetland restoration.
• Adopt renewable energy and sustainable architecture standards.
• Cities like Copenhagen and Singapore serve as models for low-carbon urban design.

3. Participatory Urban Governance

• Empower local governments and communities to design urban policies.
• Promote gender-sensitive and youth-led urban initiatives — aligning with the 2024 theme of youth engagement.

4. Leveraging Technology and Data

• Use AI, GIS, and smart-city platforms for real-time monitoring of housing, mobility, and disaster response.
• India’s Smart Cities Mission integrates technology with sustainable urban management.

5. Public–Private Partnerships (PPP)

• Encourage green investment in housing and infrastructure through PPP models.
• Foster innovation in eco-friendly construction materials, such as bamboo, recycled steel, and low-carbon cement.

Role of Communities and Civil Society

• Community-driven housing cooperatives (Brazil, Kenya, India) ensure inclusivity and affordability.
• NGOs and youth-led organisations strengthen grassroots participation.
• Awareness campaigns on World Habitat Day reinforce the idea that “housing is not just shelter, but dignity and belonging.”
  

India’s Urban Context

• Urban population: 36% (2024); projected to reach 40% by 2035.
• Key initiatives:
  • PM Awas Yojana (Urban)
  • AMRUT 2.0 (for basic urban services)
  • Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) for sanitation and waste management.
  • National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) for data-driven governance.
• Challenges remain: slum proliferation, rising real-estate costs, and inadequate public transport.
  

Way Forward

• Strengthen Local Governance: Empower municipalities with funds, functionaries, and autonomy under the 74th Amendment.
• Integrate Climate Adaptation: Make climate risk assessments a mandatory part of city planning.
• Inclusive Policy Design: Address needs of women, migrants, and informal workers.
• Global Collaboration: Share best practices through UN-Habitat and World Bank partnerships.
  
• Civic Awareness: Promote public education on sustainable living and urban responsibility.
  

Conclusion

World Habitat Day 2025 is not merely a symbolic observance but a call to global solidarity and local action. As urban populations swell and crises deepen, cities must evolve into spaces of opportunity, equity, and resilience.
The future of humanity is urban — but the future of cities depends on how inclusively and sustainably we build them. Ensuring “Shelter, Safety, and Sustainability for All” is not just a policy goal — it is a moral imperative.

Mains Practice Question

1. Urbanisation is both an opportunity and a challenge for sustainable development. In the context of World Habitat Day 2025’s theme “Urban Crisis Response,” discuss the key strategies needed to build resilient and inclusive cities in the Global South. (250 words)

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