World Habitat Day
The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day; this year, World Habitat Day will be held on October 7, 2019. The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.
Each year, World Habitat Day takes on a new theme to bring attention to UN-Habitat’s mandate to promote sustainable development policies that ensure adequate shelter for all. This World Habitat Day will focus on promoting all levels of government and all relevant stakeholders to reflect on how to implement concrete initiatives to ensure adequate and affordable housing in the context of the implementation of the New Urban Agenda at all levels, as well as, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 11 which speaks to sustainable cities and communities.
The theme will be “Frontier Technologies as an innovative tool to transform waste to wealth”.
Housing and the Green State Development Strategy
Development objective E of the GSDS vision 2040 speaks to Resilient Infrastructures, Green Towns & Urban Public Spaces. A fundamental principle in this goal is bridging the gap between people and environment and recognizing the role of nature in economic and social development. This involves understanding and valuing natural ecosystems and the services they provide and incorporating those into spatial and economic planning. World Habitat Day is more than just affordable housing, it’s about:
- High quality transport and communication systems;
- Sufficient and appropriate land to meet municipal services demand;
- Maximising the use of green infrastructures to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems function;
- Provide local population, especially the poor with sufficient safe and affordable housing, open green space and access to quality services; and
- Low-carbon and sustainable lifestyles.
Some initiatives in Guyana
Housing and the development of communities in Guyana is a shared responsibility. Agencies which have a mandate (both legal and voluntary) include:The Central Housing and Planning Authority under the Ministry of Communities;Habitat for Humanity; and Food for the Poor Guyana.
Some of the initiative under taken by the CH&PA to improve urban housing are, the development of a National Housing Strategy, the launch of the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (with IDB support), and the construction of 1000 turn- key homes on the East Bank of Demerara.
Food for the Poor Guyana, has completed the construction of 3, 815 homes as part of their housing drive. Although many of the homes have been constructed outside urban areas, residents in Regions 2, 3 and 4 have benefitted, including victims of the Broad Street fire which occurred in March.
Sources:http://unhabitat.org/world-habitat-day/
http://sdg.iisd.org/events/world-habitat-day-2019/http://sdg.iisd.org/events/world-habitat-day-2019/
Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040
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