World Habitat Day 2011 
(Other University events)
3 October 2011
In support of The University of Auckland’s partnership with UN-Habitat, the United Nations Agency for Human Settlements, please join us in celebrating World Habitat Day 2011, ‘Cities and Climate Change' (www.unhabitat.org/whd).
World Habitat Day provides us with an opportunity to think about the human habitat , about the state of urban settlements at home and around the world, and about the basic right of all, to adequate shelter. This year, World Habitat Day will be celebrated on 3 October 2011 with a Global Celebration hosted by the Government of Mexico. This year’s theme 'Cities and Climate Change' reflects on the impact of cities in creating climate change, and, in return, on the effects of climate change on cities. What are cities doing to address this? What can be done both globally and locally to address the challenges of climate change as it becomes the preeminent development challenge of the 21st century?
The day aims to increase collective awareness of the human habitat and to encourage greater responsibility for its sustainable future. As the world’s population living in urban areas steadily increases, issues of climate change, poverty, resource depletion, social exclusion, food insecurity and economic instability become more pressing and have the potential to significantly impact on our urban settlements well into the future.
In the words of Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General: On this observance of World Habitat Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the important journey to a more sustainable future, and let us focus greater attention on addressing climate change in the world’s cities and beyond.
The University is hosting a series of events to observe World Habitat Day and to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on the urban environment, and to showcase the University’s initiatives in urban sustainability in line with the theme of 'Cities and Climate Change'.
It will involve departments, disciplines, students and staff across The University of Auckland, as well as other interested stakeholders, in various key activities including:
• World Habitat Day Photo Competition. Call for entries reflecting 'Climate change in everyday life.' Open to the public (closes 29 September).
• World Habitat Day Photo Exhibition. Selected entries will be on display at the NICAI Student Centre, Level 2, 26 Symonds Street from 3-7 October. Vote for your favourite entries on facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/uoa.whd
The People’s Choice Award will be awarded to the photo that is deemed most popular on facebook, ie with the most ‘likes'. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will close at 12noon on Thursday 6 October (NZ time).
Winners announced in a prize ceremony at 12.30 on Friday 7 October in the NICAI Student Centre.
• Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change - poster display at Epsom Campus reflecting students’ journeys towards making their lives more sustainable (3-14 October).
• Myths and maths behind a low carbon Auckland: Exhibition and lecture by Dr Hugh Byrd on the impact of climate change on the built environment, Gus Fisher Gallery (1 October).
• Emergency shelter: Strong and insulated yet comforting. Display of an emergency shelter designed and constructed by architecture students, NICAI courtyard (23 September-14 October).
• Urban growth in Uganda: What do you do when 50% of the population is under 14? Lecture and exhibition, Conference Centre (3-8 October).
• Spring Clothes Swap. Drop off pre-loved clothes to AUSA reception (opposite General Library) and let's recycle clothes, save money and look after the planet at the same time. Join us in the Quad for interactive games, movie screening and more. AUSA and the University, The AUSA Quad (3 October).
• Auckland's housing: The struggle against climate change. A cross-disciplinary panel of academics from The University of Auckland will discuss this theme (5 October).
• There Once Was an Island. A screening of a multi-award winning documentary about the lives of three members of the Takuu community and their personal journeys in the face of climate change. (October 6).
• Sustainability and Christchurch. A public lecture by Cameron Sinclair, CEO of Architecture for Humanity, and Vicki Buck, former Mayor of Christchurch (7 October).
• Climate change: Our health, our children, our Pacific. A public lecture by Dr Teuila Percival, Director of Pacific Health Unit at The University of Auckland and a practising paediatrician who does work in the Pacific (13 October).
