United Nations, Apr 13 (IANS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the world needs a new vision for urbanisation, a "New Urban Agenda," to help protect the environment and limit climate change.

While meeting Ecuador President Rafael Correa Delgado here on Tuesday, Ban thanked him for hosting the third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), which will take place in Quito, capital of Ecuador, from October 17-20, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Habitat III is a historic opportunity for change," Ban said.

"It is happening during the critical first year of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The success of this ambitious endeavour will be largely determined by how we live in, design and manage our cities," the UN chief said.

Underlining that the world's population is living "in the urban century", with more than half the global population in urban areas, Ban said: "That is why we need a new vision for urbanisation -- a New Urban Agenda."