‘It all starts at home’: Global UN forum opens in Cairo to rethink urban development
CAIRO, Nov 4 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Cities are home to over half the world’s population and are projected to house more than two-thirds by 2050, but many are struggling to provide basic services, cope with climate change and reduce inequalities.
A global forum opened in Cairo on Friday to rethink urban development and make cities more sustainable, inclusive and resilient.
The three-day U.N. forum, known as the World Urban Forum (WUF), brought together more than 20,000 participants from governments, cities, businesses, academia and civil society organizations.
The forum is the first to be held in Africa since its inception in 2002, and participants are keen to highlight the challenges and opportunities of urbanization on the continent.
“It all starts at home,” said Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of U.N.-Habitat, the U.N. agency for human settlements. “Cities are where the majority of the world’s population lives, and they are where the most pressing challenges of our time are felt.”
Sharif said the forum would focus on finding solutions to these challenges, such as providing affordable housing, improving infrastructure, and reducing pollution.
The forum will also address the issue of climate change, which is expected to have a significant impact on cities.
“Cities are on the front lines of climate change,” said Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). “They are already experiencing the effects of climate change, and they need to be part of the solution.”
Espinosa said the forum would provide a platform for cities to share their experiences and learn from each other.
The forum is expected to adopt a declaration that will set out a vision for sustainable urban development.
The declaration is expected to call for increased investment in cities, greater participation of local communities in decision-making, and a focus on reducing inequalities.
The forum is also expected to launch a new initiative called the “Urban SDG Alliance.” The alliance will bring together cities, governments, businesses and civil society organizations to work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs are a set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. They cover a wide range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality and climate change.
The Urban SDG Alliance will focus on helping cities to achieve the SDGs related to urbanization.
The forum is expected to generate a lot of excitement and momentum around the issue of urban development. It is an important opportunity for cities to come together and share their experiences, learn from each other, and develop solutions to the challenges they face.
‘It all starts at home’: global UN forum opens in Cairo to rethink urban development
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