Miscellaneous

1    Ambassador Staffan Tillander of Sweden and I are co-chairs of the Group of Friends (GoF) on Sustainable Cities. We delighted to participate in this afternoon’s event and I have the honour to deliver this statement on both our behalf.

2    Sustainable cities is a critical component of the sustainable development agenda. Urbanisation is a key future trend. By 2050, 7 out of 10 people will be living in urban areas. Cities are the engines of world economic growth. Cities will be where our future global challenges lie and where they can also be met.

3    The GoF on Sustainable Cities was initiated by Sweden and Singapore last November with two key objectives: first, to actively contribute to the discussions on sustainable cities in the lead-up to Rio+20, and second, to provide a platform for dialogue and discussion on this important and cross-cutting topic in the longer-term and post-Rio+20. The GoF comprises 29 member states, spanning the major regions.¹

4    Since its formation, the GoF has held four meetings. The GoF adopted a working definition of sustainable cities as being “environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and economically productive”. Within this framework, the GoF discussed many cross-cutting themes, including health, water and sanitation, air pollution, waste management, energy, infrastructure and disaster risk management, jobs and slums, governance, policy, integrated planning, and design and innovation. On 21 May, the GoF will be organising a high-level event, featuring experts and practitioners on sustainable cities.

5    As many UN and related agencies are already engaged on urbanisation issues, the GoF also invited officials from UN-Habitat, UNEP (UN Environment Programme UNEP), UNDP (UN Development Programme), OCHA (Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs), DESA (Department of Economic and Social Affairs) and the World Bank to present their work during our meetings. We found this particularly useful in drawing the various elements together and building on the inter-linkages.

6    Over the past 5 months, the GoF has discussed a number of issues aimed at strengthening sustainable urban development. We have identified some of the key issues which need to be addressed as follows:

i.    Developing national urban development policies that will integrate efforts to support a holistic, integrated and multi-level governance approach to urban planning and development that empowers local authorities;

ii.    Improving living conditions by upgrading basic services such as health, nutrition, safe potable water, sanitation and waste management. An integrated approach to infrastructure planning and provision should be maintained;

iii.    Implementing land policy development and regulatory and procedural reform programmes;

iv.    Calling on international financial institutions to allocate investments in urban infrastructure;

v.    Encouraging the adoption of information and communication technologies to foster smart, connected cities;

vi.    Using culture as a force for urban regeneration and social inclusion;

vii.    Implement comprehensive risk management strategies;

viii.    Reaffirming the right to adequate housing; and

ix.    Promoting participation by civil society and local communities.

7    The GoF also hopes that the body of knowledge on sustainable cities can be continually built upon and transmitted widely. To exchange experiences, one idea is to create an e-platform and a global partnership for sustainable cities, involving multi-stakeholder participation – UN agencies, cities and local governments, academics, civil society, national governments, international organisations and the private sector. Such an initiative will help to continue the rich dialogue and intensify the sharing of best practices, and can be useful in following up on the commitments post-Rio+20.

8    In conclusion, Staffan and I are both delighted to be in the presence of many mayors at today’s event. Given the critical role you play, your participation will certainly contribute to enriching our conversation and enhancing our body of knowledge on sustainable cities.

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_{1        Members are: Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Poland, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and UK.}