Ana Claudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), highlighted the importance of jointly considering climate change and population housing needs when developing cities. In her view, modern cities must be re-planned in accordance with sustainable development principles.

In an interview with CGTN, Rossbach stated that cities currently account for roughly 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with nearly 40 percent of those emissions linked to buildings and the construction sector.

The UN representative emphasized that cities are not only the largest energy consumers but also the first regions to feel the impacts of climate change. According to her, extreme heat directly affects public health, living standards, and social equity.

Rossbach noted that temperature distribution within cities is also uneven. For example, in some informal residential areas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, air temperatures can be up to 8 degrees Celsius higher than in other parts of the city. This situation demonstrates that ecological issues in cities are accompanied by social inequality.

The head of UN-Habitat stated the necessity of moving away from endless urban sprawl toward more thoughtful and balanced construction principles. In her opinion, housing construction must go hand in hand with the preservation of green spaces and water bodies.

She also pointed out that while technologies necessary for green construction currently exist, bridging the gap between initial costs and accessibility is crucial for their widespread adoption. Achieving this requires public policy, innovative financial instruments, and the active participation of the private sector.

According to UN data, nearly 70 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas by 2050. Currently, more than 1 billion people live in informal settlements with inadequate living conditions.

UN-Habitat has long advocated for the sustainable development of cities. According to the organization, the current climate situation demonstrates the importance of developing cities in a more compact, environmentally friendly, and accessible manner for all segments of the population.