Today is World Planning Day. Originally known as World Urbanism Day, it was started in Buenos Aires in 1949 by Carlos María della Paolera, an Argentinian professor.
Paolera had an international conscious and understood the growth of international networks meant planning knowledge also needed to be disseminated and celebrated.
Now in its 74th year, it is celebrated in over 30 countries on four continents on November 8 each year. It is a special day to recognise and promote the role of planners and planning in creating healthy, prosperous communities.
World Town Planning Day presents an excellent opportunity to look at planning ideals from a global perspective:
- Collaboration between professional planners, the public, and local decision-makers
- Ethical principles in the practice of planning
- Approaches that prioritise equity in community planning and development
On World Town Planning Day each year, planners and communities all over the world come together to celebrate how good planning improves the lives of people and benefits society at large, creating places where to live, work and play together.
This year World Town Planning Day’s theme is Learn Globally, Apply Locally will focus on the value of learning from planning and planning cultures globally, fostering innovative, sustainable and equitable solutions to address global challenges.
