The UNESCAP, UNECLAC, and the UNHABITAT, in partnership with the Urban Design Lab of the Earth Institute, Columbia University, have jointly released the "Guidelines for developing eco-efficient and socially inclusive infrastructure," which provide practical tools for city planners and decision makers to reform urban planning and infrastructure design according to the principles of eco-efficiency and social inclusiveness. The guidelines build on knowledge accrued and lessons learned though case studies and pilot projects conducted in cities across Asia and Latin America. It is based on the recognized need for an urgent shift in the way urban infrastructure is planned, designed and managed in order to respond to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, globalization and climate change.