Message on World Habitat Day
世界人居日致辞
7 October 2019
2019年10月7日
World Habitat Day highlights the central role our cities and communities play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Well-planned and smartly managed cities can steer us towards inclusive growth and low-emission development.
世界人居日彰显我们的城市和社区为实现可持续发展目标所发挥的核心作用。城市规划良好、管理得当，将有利于我们迈向包容性增长和低排放发展。
At the same time, rapid and unplanned urbanization can generate or exacerbate many challenges, including the climate crisis.
反之，若城市化匆忙无序，则会产生或加剧多方面挑战，包括气候危机。
This year's observance focuses on the problem of waste – and the potential of frontier technologies to transform waste into wealth.
今年庆祝活动的主题是解决废物问题，包括发挥前沿技术变废为宝的潜力。
Solutions begin with small steps individuals can take to alter the way our cities function. We must reduce the amount of waste we produce, and, at the same time, start seeing it as a valuable resource that can be re-used and recycled, including for energy.
人人均可从小处着手，为改变城市运作形态创出新路。我们必须减少所生成废物的数量，同时开始将废物视为可再用、能循环的宝贵资源，包括用作能源。
Frontier technologies can offer better and cheaper answers to these daily challenges. For example, automation and artificial intelligence can help sort recyclables more efficiently. Sensors in smart packaging can help reduce food waste, while other innovative technologies are turning organic waste into renewable energy and compost. And new materials – such as advanced biodegradable plastics – can reduce environmental impact.
前沿技术可为应对此类日常挑战提供更有效、更便宜的办法。例如，自动化和人工智能技术有助于提高可回收物品分类的效率。采用传感器的智能包装技术可协助减少食品浪费，而其他创新技术正在将有机废物转化为可再生能源和堆肥。先进的可生物降解塑料等新材料能减少对环境的影响。
But we still need to invest much more if we are to improve waste management.
然而，我们仍需投入更多才能改善废物管理。
With cities in the lead and frontier technologies in widespread use, we can achieve make major advances on the road to sustainable urban development.
在城市的引领下，通过广泛使用前沿技术，我们在实现可持续城市发展的道路上将可取得重大进展。