This message is at the core of this year’s World Cities Day, celebrated in Bogotá under the theme People-Centred Smart Cities.
Organised by UN-Habitat, the event brings together mayors, urban planners, and community leaders to explore how data, design, and digital tools can build cities that are not only smarter but also fairer, greener, and more inclusive.
With nearly 70% of the world’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, the demand for housing, services, and climate resilience continues to rise. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his message for the day, stressed that innovation must close gaps rather than widen them.
“A truly smart city puts people first, especially the most vulnerable,” he said. “When we place people at the centre, digital innovation can help drive fairness and sustainability for all.”
Bogotá, known globally for its creative approach to urban management, has been recognised for integrating technology with citizen engagement. Its initiatives, such as TransMilenio, a pioneering bus rapid transit system, and Ciclovía, which transforms streets into car-free zones every Sunday, have inspired cities worldwide.
Elkin Velásquez, UN-Habitat’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said Bogotá offers a valuable example of how data and dialogue can help shape equitable futures.
“The global observance here will foster international dialogue on people-centred smart cities, where technology enhances quality of life and strengthens community bonds,” he noted.
Among the keynote speakers is Carlo Ratti, Director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Senseable City Lab, who argues that cities must evolve beyond the traditional idea of the “smart city.” “Cities must first and foremost be about people, responsive, inclusive, and adaptive,” he said. “A ‘senseable city’ uses technology not for its own sake, but to better listen to and serve its citizens.”
Ratti praised Bogotá for its experimental spirit, calling it a “leading city for urban innovation.” He also emphasised the need for sustainable approaches to construction and urban design, suggesting that “in an age of climate emergency, the most radical act may be not to build, or to build differently.”
According to Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Bogotá embodies the principles of people-centred smart cities.
“In Bogotá, the smart cities approach aims to improve well-being and quality of life,” she said. “Programmes like Ecobarrios and Mi Casa promote resilience and sustainability, while digital tools like Chatico, an AI-powered virtual agent, enhance citizen participation.”
She added that such initiatives are key to advancing sustainable mobility, bridging the digital divide, and fostering inclusive governance.
World Cities Day concludes UN-Habitat’s Urban October, a month-long campaign to promote sustainable and inclusive urbanisation. This year’s observance in Bogotá aims to leave a legacy of collaboration and shared commitment to a more equitable urban future.
“The legacy we seek is twofold,” Rossbach said. “To showcase cities’ creativity in advancing people-centred smart approaches, and to strengthen cooperation so that innovation continues to serve people, not the other way around.”
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
