Young men and women in cities around the world need to have their voices heard on the issues of climate change, governance and rapid
urbanisation by their local governments to better inform decision makers, and by the delegates and stakeholders in the UN during this critical stage of preparation for the 2012 Summit, and beyond.

This ‘century of the city’ will see 2.2 billion people populating our cities. Over 95 percent of these people will be absorbed into the urban areas
of less developed regions. The economic, cultural and social impacts of climate change and rapid urbanisation are alarmingly complex and the pressure for viable and sustainable solutions is growing.


Young people aged 15 to 25 represent a potential worldwide force of 3 billion people. With the population of young people higher than ever
before, there is a compelling argument that this global resource should be mobilized to influence and implement solutions to every major issue the world faces today.

UN Habitat’s United Nations Human Settlements Programme has a policy to provide young people with opportunities to voice their concerns and
opinions about climate issues, governance and urban development.

Haring Woods Studio was invited by the UN Habitat Youth & Partners Section to develop the Place on Earth programme to support this policy.

“Young people, lest we forget, constitute the majority of the urban population in rapidly urbanizing countries. Often, they have no jobs and no voice. Any effective response to improve the living conditions of the urban poor and slum dwellers must deal, prima facie, with the challenges
facing youth”.
Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director,
UN Habitat

“Place on Earth will help young people around the world defi ne what their place on earth is now and help to infl uence what their place, my place and all our places, cities and countries on earth can be in the future as cleaner, greener, better and more prosperous places in which to live.”
S. Ananthakrishnan, Senior Advisor, Youth Empowerment,
UN Habitat