世界各地的公民们，

我们的经济正面临着多重冲击和危机。随着环境问题日趋紧迫，世界各地的人们还面临着生活成本增加、缺少可负担的适当住房以及基本服务落后等挑战。

亿万人民为自己当前和未来的安全、尊严和生计忧心忡忡。

实现公正、可持续发展以及17个可持续发展目标的脚步停滞不前。对此，发展中国家的感受更为强烈。

为彻底改变这一趋势，我们需要一个新的可持续城市发展融资框架。我们还需要投资于整体规划，同时强化我们将获得庇身之所和住房作为一项人权的承诺。

这些看起来都像不可能完成的任务，我却对其充满希望。我相信我们能把不可能变为可能。城市和人类住区，无论大小，都是我们的希望所在。我们可以解锁它们带来的机遇，为发展和复苏创造条件。城市一次又一次迎难而上，展现了自身的韧性。

目前，世界上一半的人口居住在城市，这是大势所趋，无法阻挡。通过改造我们的城市，并从中找到我们需要的资源和人才，我们可以升级必要的解决方案，以确保没有一个人、一个地方掉队。

如若不能实现可持续发展目标11，我们将面临严重的后果。非正规住区将在较为贫困的地区进一步扩大，数百万人将陷入极端贫困和流离失所的境地，同时，气候灾害也将引发更多的城市危机。

当务之急是要转变思路，改变我们对城市的既有叙事。现在，是时候采取行动了。我们需要投资城市的未来，我们需要一个新的融资框架以释放城市的潜能。

值此世界城市日之际，让我们共同承诺将更好地汇聚资源，建设好我们的城市！

2023年世界城市日快乐！

Dear Global Citizens,

Our global economy is facing multiple shocks and crises. Along with the escalating climate emergency, people all over the world are faced with the rising cost of living, lack of affordable and adequate housing, as well as poor basic services.

Hundreds of millions of people are anxious about their present and future security, dignity, and livelihoods.

Progress towards achieving sustainable and just development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals has stalled. This is felt even more strongly in the developing world.

We need a new financing framework for sustainable urban development to reverse this trend. We also need to invest in integrated planning and turbocharge our commitment to shelter and housing as a human right.

Things might seem impossible, but I am always optimistic. I believe in turning IMPOSSIBLE into I’M Possible. Cities and human settlements, big or small, are our hope. We can unlock the opportunities they offer and create the conditions for growth and recovery. Time and time again, cities have risen to the challenge and demonstrated their resilience.

Half of the world is now urban. There is no stopping this mega-trend. By adapting our cities and finding in them the resources and talent we need, we can upscale the solutions we need to ensure no one and no place is left behind.

The price tag for not achieving SDG11 is too high. Informal settlements would expand in poorer regions, millions would be pushed into extreme poverty and out of their homes, and climate disasters would trigger additional urban crises.

It is important to flip the script and change our narrative about cities. The time for action is now. We need to invest in our urban future. We need a new financing framework to unleash the potential of our cities.

This World Cities Day, let’s pledge to better finance our cities!

Happy World Cities Day 2023!