World Cities Day: Are We Enjoying the Cities That Governments Designed?

Today, October 31, 2025, is World Cities Day, an opportunity to reflect on how we have built and enjoyed our urban spaces. This day invites us to consider whether the cities designed by our governments are truly places where we can live, create, and thrive fully.

Cities of the 21st century face a great challenge: transforming urban spaces into safe, inclusive, and livable environments for their inhabitants. However, a fundamental question arises: are we really enjoying the cities that governments design for us? The answer, often, is no

Currently, over 55% of the global population lives in urban areas, and this figure will continue to grow. In developed countries, the urban population exceeds 80% in nations like Japan, Germany, and Canada, while in developing countries such as Nigeria, India, and Bangladesh, the proportion varies between 30% and 50%. These figures reflect the rapid urbanization our planet is experiencing and highlight the urgent need to improve the quality of life in our cities. The key to achieving this lies in the active participation of communities in urban design and planning. When people contribute their ideas and needs, we can create spaces that truly respond to them, fostering inclusion and a sense of belonging.

Numerous studies, such as those by the World Bank, show that cities involving their residents in urban decision-making achieve higher levels of satisfaction. Well-designed public spaces that are safe, accessible, and focused on active mobility — like walking and cycling — complement this vision, while also reducing emissions and improving urban health.

Unfortunately, in many cities, decisions are still made without community involvement, leading to solutions disconnected from real needs. This often results in spaces that invite merely transit, rather than living, or that accentuate inequalities and cause displacement. Gentrification and a lack of accessibility are clear examples of how cities designed without a community-focused approach do not promote collective enjoyment or overall well-being.

For cities to be truly humane and enjoyable, governments must promote participatory and collaborative processes. Incorporating citizens’ voices into urban planning fosters the creation of safer, more inclusive, and vibrant environments that encourage active and connected communities.

In conclusion, if we want to enjoy the full potential of our urban spaces, we need this vision to be shared and built together with the communities that inhabit them. Only through participation, respect, and collaboration can we transform urban environments into places where everyone can live, create, and enjoy fully.