Second Committee

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

1             I am honoured to be speaking on behalf of the 10 Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

2             ASEAN aligns itself with the statement by Thailand on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.  We would like to thank the Secretary-General for his report on this agenda item. 

3             ASEAN would also like to congratulate Ecuador for its successful hosting of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito last week; and to thank them for their leadership and warm hospitality.

Mr Chairman,

4             ASEAN believes that the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) will require all countries to harness the positive force of sustainable urbanisation.  As more and more of the world’s population move to urban centres, cities play a critical role in sustainable development.  In this regard, ASEAN welcomes the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III.  The New Urban Agenda reaffirms our global commitment to sustainable urban development as a critical step for realising sustainable development in an integrated and coordinated manner at all levels, with the participation of all relevant actors.  

Mr Chairman,

5             Urbanisation is changing the face of ASEAN.  Today, urban areas account for more than 50% of the region’s GDP.  An additional 54 million people are expected to move into ASEAN cities by 2025, and nearly 40% of ASEAN’s GDP growth through 2025 is expected to come from 142 cities with populations between 200,000 and 5 million.[1]  These developments have helped to create an expanding middle class, improve health and education, develop a growing workforce serving regional and global labour needs, and improve infrastructure.

6             Like many other cities around the world, cities in Southeast Asia also face numerous challenges to liveability and environmental sustainability.  These challenges are compounded by high rates of rural-urban migration and the rising affluence and expectations of our peoples.  ASEAN recognises that urbanisation is a significant phenomenon in developing regions such as our own and that we must manage its challenges if we are to reap its considerable economic, social and environmental benefits.

Mr Chairman,

7             ASEAN has taken steps to ensure that its cities and urban areas are environmentally sustainable, while meeting the social and economic needs of our peoples.  Through the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint (2009-2015), the ASEAN Initiative on Environmentally Sustainable Cities and the ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities, we have intensified individual and collective efforts to improve the quality of water and air within ASEAN through regional and national initiatives to reduce industrial and transportation pollution.  We also continue to share experiences, expertise and technology in areas such as urban planning and governance.

8             Building on the ASCC Blueprint (2009-2015), ASEAN leaders gathered in November 2015 to sign the Kuala Lumpur Declaration entitled “ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together”.  This landmark declaration highlighted, amongst others, six strategic measures that ASEAN believes will contribute to sustainable cities in our region.  Allow me to elaborate.

9             First, enhancing participatory and integrated approaches in urban planning and management for sustainable urbanisation towards a clean and green ASEAN.  ASEAN recognises that sustainable cities require holistic planning that takes into account the perspectives of all stakeholders, given the cross-cutting nature of sustainable urbanisation.

10           Second, strengthening the capacity of national and local institutions to implement strategies and programmes for liveable cities.  This speaks to the importance of the delivery of goods and services to urban consumers in ASEAN’s regional efforts to build sustainable cities, and the role played by national and local institutions in this regard.

11           Third, promoting coordination among relevant sectors to provide access to clean land, green public spaces, clean air, clean and safe water, and sanitation. ASEAN places importance on coordinated action between Governments, businesses and civil society as well as other key actors in meeting the challenges of urbanisation.

12           Fourth, promoting cities that are friendly to children, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities through enhanced coordination with relevant sectors to provide sustainable and accessible infrastructure systems.  ASEAN is firmly committed to inclusiveness to ensure that the benefits of urbanisation reach those amongst us who need help most.

13           Fifth, strengthening positive economic, social and environmental linkages among urban, peri-urban and rural areas.  ASEAN recognises the close linkages between human settlements across the continuum of development, and the need to address their challenges holistically.

14           Last, but not least, strengthening policies and strategies for the effective management of the impacts of population growth and migration on cities.  ASEAN believes it is critical to adequately address population growth and migration in urban areas, and to ensure that infrastructure developments and government policies can keep pace with the economic, social and environmental needs of our peoples.

Mr Chairman,

15           ASEAN believes that there can be no sustainable development without sustainable urbanisation.  ASEAN is committed to intensifying cooperation within our region and between our region and the international community to implement the New Urban Agenda in synergy with the ASEAN 2025 roadmap.  The role of UN-Habitat in developing normative knowledge and providing capacity development and tools to governments at all levels in designing, planning, and managing sustainable urban development is critical in this regard.  The successful implementation of the New Urban Agenda will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in an integrated manner, and to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and targets, including SDG 11 on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, in our region and beyond.

16           I thank you, Mr Chairman.

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[1]               Source: http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/understanding-asean-seven-things-you-need-to-know.