As cities continue to expand and evolve, the focus of this year’s World Cities Day is on ensuring that innovation serves people first. Celebrated in Bogotá, Colombia, under the theme “People-Centred Smart Cities,” the event—organized by UN-Habitat—brings together mayors, city planners, and community leaders to discuss how technology, data, and design can make urban areas more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable. With nearly 70% of the global population expected to live in urban environments by 2050, the need for people-focused urban development has never been greater.
In his message for the occasion, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stressed that innovation should bridge divides rather than deepen them. He highlighted that truly smart cities prioritize people—especially the most vulnerable—ensuring digital advancements drive fairness and sustainability.
The host city, Bogotá, is internationally recognized for its innovative urban experiments. Initiatives such as the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system and Ciclovía, which opens streets to pedestrians and cyclists on Sundays, have redefined sustainable mobility and community engagement. According to Elkin Velásquez, UN-Habitat’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Bogotá provides a powerful example of how data and dialogue can shape more inclusive urban futures.
Architect and MIT researcher Carlo Ratti, a keynote speaker at the event, urged cities to move beyond the concept of the “smart city” toward what he calls a “senseable city.” He argued that technology should not dominate urban life but instead serve as a tool to better understand and respond to people’s needs. Bogotá, he noted, demonstrates how local projects rooted in community participation can inspire global change.
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, emphasized that Bogotá’s model embodies a people-centred smart city approach. Local programmes such as Ecobarrios and Mi Casa promote sustainability and resilience, while digital innovations like Chatico, an AI-powered virtual agent, help citizens access information and participate in governance. These initiatives aim to bridge the digital divide and enhance community engagement.
World Cities Day also concludes Urban October, UN-Habitat’s month-long campaign for sustainable urbanization. This year’s observance highlights how collaboration and innovation can make cities fairer and more responsive to human needs. As Ms. Rossbach noted, the goal is to ensure that technological progress serves people—not the other way around—creating a future where every city is both smart and humane.
