In April 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 71/284, designating April 21 as World Creativity and Innovation Day, building on an initiative launched by Canadian author Marci Segal in 2001. The date was chosen to coincide with the birthday of economist Jane Jacobs, known for her innovative ideas on urban development. The day raises awareness of the importance of creative thinking and innovation in addressing economic, social, and environmental challenges, linking creativity to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN emphasizes that innovation is not confined to fields like technology alone but is a human capacity that can be cultivated through education, the arts, entrepreneurship, and public policy — essential to finding new solutions to problems such as poverty, climate change, and inequality. Universities, startups, and schools worldwide mark the day with design-thinking workshops, innovation competitions for students and entrepreneurs, and talks inspiring young people to develop new ideas.