The United Nations Habitat Third Preparatory Committee (PrepCom3) meeting, themed housing and sustainable urban development, kicked off in Surabaya on Monday.

The meeting, held from Monday to Wednesday, involves ministers from 33 UN member nations and hundreds of representatives and delegations from 193 countries.

“PrepCom3 will be the last opportunity for the United Nations member countries, the local government and other stakeholders in order to give perspective for the new urban agenda to be proposed in the third UN Habitat conference,” executive director of UN Habitat Joan Clos said during the opening ceremony on Monday

The conference will take place again in Quito, Ecuador, in October. PrepCom3 is the final round after PrepCom1 and PrepCom2 were held in New York in 2014 and Nairobi in 2015, respectively.

“You should contribute for the success of new urban agenda to create solutions, which are inclusive, innovative and participatory,” he said.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who opened the event, said he hoped the meeting could contribute solutions to urban challenges, especially in light of unavoidable urbanization.

“We need to create a better city with better facilities and inclusivity to answer all the issues like climate change and poverty,” he said.

Around 54.5 percent of the world’s total population is now living in urban areas. The number has increased rapidly since 45.1 percent in 1996. (bbn)

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