Closing of the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum
Closing of the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum
Under the slogan “It All Starts Locally: Let’s Work Together for Sustainable Cities and Communities,” Egypt recently hosted the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum, where nearly 40,000 participants from 182 countries gathered; In order to exchange ideas and visions about the future of urbanization in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the past few days, Earth Guards have followedthe activities of this global event, as all forum sessions emphasized the necessity of commitment to promoting sustainable urbanization through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Over the course of last week, with the participation of 63,000 participants in more than 600 various discussion and dialogue sessions; At its twelfth session, the World Urban Forum received great international praise, and its activities also witnessed the prominent participation of Anna-Claudia Rosbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program__ (UN Habitat), who said: “The World Urban Forum’s focus on local action came at the right time; Because more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas.”
The forum – according to Ms. Rosbach’s statement – included discussions that highlighted a number of important issues related to efforts made to promote sustainable cities and communities. This interest was represented in the recognition that adequate housing is a human right, especially in light of the multiple climate and humanitarian crises the world faces; This prompts us to continue increasing efforts to finance new cities, in a way that reflects the green sustainability called for by national and global strategies.
At the conclusion of the forum, I pointed out the remarkable success achieved during its activities, as it reflected the firm commitment that Egypt demonstrated in hosting this global event. The participants also praised Egypt’s experiences in many initiatives, including: the “Decent Life” initiative, which Engineer Sherif El-Sherbiny – Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities – confirmed was an Egyptian path towards continuing to serve citizens and develop society sustainably; To provide the best to all citizens fairly and comprehensively.
That success and those achievements were reflected in the numbers of the World Urban Forum at its twelfth session, as its activities were at many levels and were based on in-depth discussions, major dialogues and comprehensive round tables, as well as gatherings organized and led by stakeholders and partners concerned with urban development. These events witnessed the presence of four heads of state, 60 ministers and 45 deputy ministers from 84 countries and 96 presidents. Municipality.
For the conclusion of the forum to be a compass to guide the international community, the Egyptian government launched the “Cairo Declaration.” The recommendations of this declaration – expressed by Dr. Manal Awad, “Minister of Local Development” – emphasized the importance of pursuing the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local, regional, and global levels. The “Cairo Declaration” also called for a number of recommendations; Among the most prominent are: urgent action to confront the global housing crisis, calling for green cities that help increase sustainability rates, making the circular economy the focus of urban development, benefiting from local data in making decisions, as well as employing culture and heritage as components of sustainability.
At the conclusion of the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum, it is clear to us that the challenges facing cities and societies in our current era require concerted efforts and effective cooperation between all parties concerned. Therefore, the role of the “Cairo Declaration” comes as an important step towards achieving the desired positive change, as it places before us a set of recommendations that reflect sustainable opportunities in developing urban communities.
The success of the World Urban Forum in its twelfth session confirms beyond any doubt Egypt’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and also confirms the role of these goals at the local and global levels. So let’s work together for more sustainable cities and communities.
