New York, NY (BBN)– Governments, the private sector and civil society have to work much more closely together if the world is to build and sustain better cities, which are now home to more than half the global population, United Nations officials said today.

Marking World Habitat Day, whose theme this year is “Better City, Better Life,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a message spotlighting the effect that smart policies and actions can have on the well-being of the estimated 1 billion people worldwide who live in slums or other forms of sub-standard housing.

“The urban poor are too often condemned to a life without basic rights, hope of an education or decent work,” said Mr. Ban, noting that they typically live in developing countries and are both disenfranchised and under the age of 25.

Mr. Ban stressed that the challenges of urban poverty, stretching from pollution to criminal gang culture, can be overcome.

In a separate message, Inga Björk-Klevby, the Officer-in-Charge of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), on Monday stressed the need to keep improving the world’s cities as she noted that trends indicate two thirds of humanity will be living in towns and cities within the next two generations.

Ms. Björk-Klevby called for planners, officials and developers to create “smarter” cities, with better quality of life, greater investment in human capital, enhanced political and cultural inclusion and sustainable economic opportunities.

Events are taking place around the globe to mark World Habitat Day, which the UN designates as the first Monday in October each year, including in such cities as Barcelona, Spain; Kolkata, India; and Nakuru, Kenya.

BBN/SSR/AD-05Oct10-1:58 pm (BST)