Press statement from UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat is pleased to announce the five winners of the 2024 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to sustainable urbanization and the improvement of urban life worldwide.
This year, UN-Habitat received 127 nominations from individuals, organizations, and projects spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. The winning entries showcase best practices and achievements that advance Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and align with this year’s World Habitat Day theme, “Engaging youth to create a better urban future.”
The awards will be presented on World Habitat Day, an annual event dedicated to reflecting on the state of cities and human settlements globally. Observed on the first Monday of October each year, the 2024 Global Observance will be hosted by the city of Querétaro, Mexico, on 7 October 2024.
“Our Scroll of Honour winners are proof that innovative solutions are within reach,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “Each of these initiatives, whether promoting inclusive urban spaces or fostering sustainable economic models, serves as a strong reminder of what we can achieve when we prioritize people and
planet in urban development.”
According to UN-Habitat’s 2023 global assessment report, Rescuing SDG11 for a Resilient Urban Planet, the world remains far from meeting the targets of SDG11.
Without urgent interventions from urban actors worldwide, these goals will not be achieved.
“To bridge this gap, we must accelerate innovation and scale up investments in transformative solutions like those recognized by this year’s Scroll of Honour,”
Rossbach emphasized. “Nearly 65 per cent of all SDGs are directly or indirectly linked to how we manage urbanization. We commend everyone who submitted nominations and call on all stakeholders to intensify efforts to make cities more sustainable.”
The 2024 UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award winners are:
1. Municipality of Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, recognized for its pioneering approach to integrated and sustainable urban development, exemplified by its “Rabat a Sustainable and Inclusive City” vision.
2. Alcaldía de Santiago de Cali, Colombia, honored for addressing urban and housing challenges by transforming public spaces, legalizing informal settlements, and promoting sustainable development.
3. Ipoh Doughnut Economics, Ipoh Perak, Malaysia, awarded for its efforts to transition the city from a resource-intensive economy to a regenerative model focused on health, waste management, and ecotourism, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
4. Allen Kong, Ocean Grove, Australia, commended for his pioneering work in socially and environmentally sustainable architecture, mentorship, and leadership in inclusive design through global programmes and indigenous advocacy.
5. David Satterthwaite, London, United Kingdom, recognized for his impactful work in revolutionizing urban development through advocacy for improved housing and living conditions for marginalized urban residents.
With the 2024 World Habitat Day theme and the Scroll of Honour Award, UN-Habitat aims to inspire dialogue and action on local initiatives that accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda, and national climate targets under the Paris Agreement.