World Habitat Day 2023

According to the ISPRA Glossary, the term 'habitat' refers to the set of physical environmental conditions (e.g. light and temperature) and chemical conditions (e.g. nutrient concentration) in which a organism grows and performs its vital functions. The set of organisms that inhabit a habitat is called a community. The habitat is thus the place that has the most suitable physical and environmental characteristics for a given species, which is thus able to live, reproduce and develop.

Celebrated every year on the first Monday in October, World Habitat Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. The aim of this World Day is to invite reflection on the condition of cities around the world: every citizen has the right to safe housing and every human being has the power and responsibility to shape the environment in which they live. Over time, the themes of the Day have varied. The first event, held in Nairobi in 1986, was entitled 'Shelter is a Right'. In the years that followed, some of the themes concerned cities, in particular 'cities of the future' and 'safer cities'. But sustainability was also a topic of great attention: in 2011, in Mexico, the relationship between cities and climate change was analysed. Finally, on 2022, World Habitat Day focused on the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements.

The World Habitat Day 2023, to be held on 2 October, places the emphasis on resilience and recovery, especially in urban contexts. With more than half the world's population living in cities and an estimated increase of up to 70 per cent by 2050, cities inevitably become the main theatre for addressing global challenges. Whether pandemics, economic recessions, conflicts or climate emergencies, cities must be prepared to recover quickly. This year's event will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan and the theme will be 'Resilient Urban Economies. Cities as engines of growth and recovery'. Representatives of national governments, local and regional authorities, as well as various stakeholder groups and representatives of civil society will gather.

3Bee is the leading climate-tech company in the protection of biodiversity through technology, with a fundamental mission: protect the pollinators, the true heroes and guardians of ecosystems and biological variety, and restore their habitat. 3Bee is founded on three fundamental pillars. The first is monitoring: 3Bee uses innovative remote sensing technologies to monitor the state of health of pollinators and biodiversity. This makes it possible to identify any critical issues and take timely measures to protect them. The second pillar is regeneration: 3Bee is a pioneer in the creation of Oases of Biodiversity. To date, we have created over 200 oases throughout Italy. The third, but not least, pillar is education: 3Bee aims to raise the awareness of citizens, schools and businesses of the important issues of biodiversity protection, pollinating insects and their habitats.

3Bee's approach in biodiversity conservation is revolutionary. Through the use of innovative technologies, 3Bee is able to listen to pollinators and intervene when necessary. The sensors and algorithms developed make it possible to collect quantifiable data on their health status and the habitat that hosts them, making it accessible to all. This transparency not only improves understanding and awareness of the status of pollinators, but also facilitates the development of targeted solutions and the implementation of effective conservation actions to which everyone can contribute. This is the context for the Oases of Biodiversity: urban and agroforestry habitats, refuges for pollinators and plant biodiversity: certified, technologically advanced and traceable. On World Habitat Day, let us take concrete action to create a more sustainable future, where biodiversity and habitat conservation are centred.

In the run-up to World Habitat Day 2023, 3Bee is launching "Voices from the Oases", the first and only playlist available on Spotify, which plays for biodiversity conservation by reproducing the unique sounds of pollinators recorded by proprietary Spectrum technology. The project is flanked by a special campaign that 3Bee has realised with the support of Metro 5 Milano: in the Milano Porta Garibaldi and Lotto stations, until 15 October 2023, there will be more than 50 posters entirely dedicated to the pollinator insects, precious guardians of biodiversity. Travellers will be able to immerse themselves in a real musical exhibition dedicated to the theme, symbolising an urgent call to action to protect our fragile ecosystem. The loss of biodiversity in fact, precisely because it is not monitored, is an urgent emergency that needs to be addressed.