Third UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III)
The Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) took place in Quito, Ecuador, from 17-20 October 2016. The main objective of the conference was to reinvigorate the global commitment to sustainable urban development, focusing on the implementation of a “New Urban Agenda”.
Read the Habitat III Declaration: ENG / FR / ESP
Local and regional governments´ contribution to the New Urban Agenda: the 2nd World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments
The World Assembly is the mechanism through which the local and regional government constituency brought its political voice to the Habitat II and III processes. In a landmark achievement for our constituency, the contributions of the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments are acknowledged in the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III.
We acknowledge the contributions of national governments, as well as the contributions of sub-national and local governments, in the definition of the New Urban Agenda and take note of the second World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments”.
Article 8 of the New Urban Agenda
Significantly, paragraph 169 calls for continued collaboration with the World Assembly in the follow-up and review of the New Urban Agenda, stating:
We note the importance of continuing to engage in the follow-up and review of the New Urban Agenda with sub-national and local governments associations represented at the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments”. It is the aspiration of the constituency to ensure that the World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments, convened by the Global Taskforce, will continue to play a key role as the political voice of local and regional governments in the follow-up and review of the New Urban Agenda.
The World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments is the successor to the World Assembly of Cities and Local Authorities, held during the Habitat II Conference in Istanbul in 1996. It is through the World Assembly, facilitated by the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, that local and regional governments from across the world have made their official contributions to the Habitat III process.
From Bogotá to Quito
|
The 2nd session of the World Assembly held in the framework of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, gathered over a thousand mayors, councilors and other locally elected leaders to adopt a joint statement reacting to the New Urban Agenda and laying out the vision of the constituency for action beyond Habitat III.
Two days later, on Sunday 16 October, over 600 representatives of local and regional governments and mayors from across the world came together again for the Habitat III Conference in Quito to celebrate the adoption of the New Urban Agenda and to commit to play their part in its achievement.
The World Assembly marked the culmination of a strong presence of local and regional governments throughout the conference.
|
Statement of the World Assembly
UCLG members shaped the statement of the World Assembly to the Habitat III Conference that was adopted during UCLG World Congress in the framework of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders that took place in Bogota, Colombia. The text clearly reflects the perspectives and priorities of our members, builds on the results of UCLG’s flagship GOLD (IV) report, launched in Bogotá, and complements the “Bogotá Commitments and the Action Agenda” adopted by the UCLG World Council, as well in the context of the framework of the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders. The Bogotá Commitments and Action Agenda constitute UCLG’s contribution to the global debate on sustainable development, and states that “local and regional governments will need to be at the centre of the public policy process, translating normative ideals into concrete policies and practical investments that will remake human settlements as the primary driver of a new, sustainable era.” It also posits that “the answers generated within urban settlements and territories will pave the way for global solutions”.
Check out the Statement of the World Assembly: ENG / FR / ESP
Relive the highlights of UCLG at the Habitat III Conference through the IISD's coverage:
See the Quito coverage Download the final summary
Read the policy updates:
|
Interviews with mayors in Quito:
|
|
|
- Videos sessions of the World Mayors Assembly at Habitat III:
Read the news:
News by Sections & Committees: