Ban: Urbanization threatens poverty gains

NANJING, China, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The world's rate of urbanization means that by 2030 two-thirds of people will be living in cities, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

At the same time, the United Nations leader said about 2 billion people could be living in slums and temporary shelters by the next 13 years.

In a message to the opening of the World Urban Forum in China, Ban said high food and fuel prices, as well as the global financial turmoil, pose a triple threat to efforts to end global poverty.

"We must not let this happen," Ban said, adding that people in cities make a significant impact on the planet.

"Urban areas consume most of the world's energy and are generating the bulk of our waste, including greenhouse gas emissions. Helping cities produce less waste and emissions and consume less energy is an integral part of our work to mitigate and adapt to climate change," Ban said.