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Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are key to reach the objectives set out by the United Nations for cities, particularly the Sustainable Development Goal 11 “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”.   They are also crucial to help
Ukraine is facing multiple challenges related to its housing sector. Housing is not affordable, especially to vulnerable groups of the population, including young people entering the labor market and low-income families. The housing affordability index, which is calculated as a ratio between the
Cities and human settlements in the UNECE region face enormous challenges. The population in the region is ageing, bringing changing demands on infrastructure and social services. Increased urban expansion has reduced the land available for other uses. Climate change and natural disasters are
Armenia has made considerable progress in implementing sustainable housing and land management policies, but significant challenges remain in terms of access to decent housing and mitigation of disaster risks.These are some of the findings of the Second UNECE Country Profile on Housing and Land
Housing is a fundamental human need that can influence public health, security and wellbeing of both present and future generations. With over 50% of Albania’s inhabitants currently residing in urban areas, the transition toward more sustainable housing in the country could have an extremely
More than half of the global population lives in cities. The current world population is projected to reach more than 9 billion by 2050, with 70% to 80% living in cities by then. If cities are to ensure that the right infrastructure and service provision for a growing population is in place, new
Today 54 per cent of the world’s population lives in urban areas. By 2050, almost three quarters of the world’s population will live in urban areas – this will be the Century of the City. The New Urban Agenda to be adopted by Habitat III, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable
The 2008 global financial and economic crisis underscored the vital role that stable and transparent housing markets play in a country’s economy. As a result of the crisis, some countries have experienced disturbing imbalances in their housing markets with foreclosures, homelessness, excess
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are key to achieve the urban climate targets of lowering energy use and GHG emissions while boosting socio-economic growth.  Many cities around the world already claim to be “smart and sustainable”, but statistics and studies, show that they
Developing a system to monitor the SDGs in different areas will be key to measure progress and ensure that targets can be met. In order to strengthen member States’ capacities for the development of evidence-based policies for sustainable housing and urban development, UNECE and UN-Habitat are
Over 73% of the population in the UNECE region lives in cities. By 2050, this figure is estimated to rise up to 85%. Cities are engines of economic growth so development of countries depends on how their cities will develop in the future. At the same time, the expanding cities are vulnerable to
Adequate housing is scarce in Serbia, where most of the multi-apartment buildings are dilapidated. The continuous decline in the quality of housing drives down the value of real estate and increases risks of injuries and health problems. Energy and water infrastructure are obsolete with an
Improving the quality of the housing stock, making it more disaster resilient, increasing its energy-efficiency and making it more affordable for the population are some of the most pressing housing challenges faced by the Republic of Moldova. These are the main findings of the 2nd UNECE Country
With 75 percent of the European population living in cities, more space is needed for expanding urban areas, yet at the same time there is a growing need for agricultural land and for the protection of key ecosystems. Rising competition for land ownership, reduced availability, and declining
UNECE experts are visiting Armenia this week to conduct the research mission for the second Country Profile on Housing and Land Management of Armenia. The recommendations to be formulated in the Country Profile will form the basis of the country’s national action plan on sustainable housing and
In 2014, there were some 3.5 million informal buildings (i.e. constructed without building permits) in South-Eastern Europe, including approximately 2,500,000 in Greece; 500,000 in Albania; 350,000 in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and 130,000 in Montenegro.  In spite of the
“Access to decent and affordable housing is a fundamental human need and right. However, housing is the least affordable human right.” This is the main finding of the study Models, challenges and trends in social housing in the UNECE region, presented at the 75th session of the UNECE Committee
The countries of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) face challenges in the housing sector that directly impact their citizens’ quality of life and the environment. Desiring to assist them, the UNECE Committee on Housing and Land Management agreed on the text of a Charter
Every year on World Habitat Day, we are encouraged to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and how we can improve them. We are also called upon to remember that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape their future.For this year’s World Habitat Day on 8 October the UNECE
 “As we work to formulate the post-2015 development agenda, the role of urbanization in supporting sustainable development is becoming increasingly important. The United Nations should continue to promote equitable urban development in our human settlements, villages, towns, cities and
The need for an energy-efficient housing sector is stronger than ever. In the UNECE region, buildings are responsible for approximately one third of total final energy consumption. Three quarters of this energy consumption is by the residential sector. Improving the energy performance of
Due to rapid population growth, Uzbekistan faces challenges in the provision of housing and infrastructure. With about half of Uzbekistan’s population living in rural areas, the development and the improvement of rural living standards is particularly important. In order to address the situation
Sound land administration and land management support many goals of the United Nations, including secure tenure for peoples’ homes, environmental protection, disaster risk mitigation, conflict prevention and economic development. In the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
There are many challenges facing housing in the 21st Century in the UNECE region. The continuing economic crisis and high unemployment levels have limited access to affordable and healthy housing. The housing sector is responsible for some 40% of energy consumption and CO2 emissions also has an
The major challenge for the governments today is how to provide people with a decent quality of life, while at the same time managing the pressures coming from overpopulation, rapid demographic growth, urbanization and climate change. Nowadays, half of the world’s inhabitants live in cities and