Approximately 75% of emissions originate from cities, while by 2050, urban areas are expected to house over two-thirds of the global population. Cities will therefore play a critical role in the push to achieve sustainable development. Cities are also the site of tackling local complex issues such as housing, energy, transportation, waste and water management, disaster risk reduction, air pollution, population aging, urban mobility, urban food systems and many others. Returning the famous phrase “Think Global, Act Local” to its origin in urban planning, this session will highlight the multiple levels at which cities operate, from policies and action at the local level driving forward solutions and positive change to forging strategic international partnerships to increase their relevance and impact in global matters. In this session, senior figures from municipal bodies across the region shared experiences on specific action and projects undertaken to meet the relevant SDG 11 targets, and representatives from international strategic partnerships spoke on the city-based ‘new multilateralism.’

The roundtable was organized by the UNECE Forests, Land and Housing Division in cooperation with the UN-Habitat Geneva Liaison Office.

Support to the event was provided by the UNDA 12th tranche project “Smart Sustainable Cities for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda in the UNECE Region”.

Watch the recording of the session on UN Web TV: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1n/k1n0vxn89u