The 8th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum (APUF-8) today urged local and national governments to strengthen political will and commitment to address the multiple interconnected crises that are putting pressure on the region. , opened with a strong call for collaboration with stakeholders at all levels. Cities – 54 percent of the world’s urban population lives.
As the region’s cities continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, the urban population is expected to grow from 2.5 billion today to 3.4 billion by 2050.aauthorities need to do so Accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the New Cities Agenda at this critical time.
aaccording to Future of Asia-Pacific Cities Report 2023: The future of crisis-resilient cities, rRecent crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of geopolitical conflict, and climate change are intersecting in cities and creating new challenges, while inequality, urban poverty and affordability Long-standing issues such as housing and the widening infrastructure gap are also coming to the fore.
This region has the largest number of people (approximately 650 million) living in informal settlements and slums, where they are severely disadvantaged and marginalized. A disproportionate number of large cities are located along coastlines and are at risk from rising sea levels and flooding due to climate change.
Armida Sarcia Alishabana, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), spoke at the forum. Investments to address demand for infrastructure, basic services, affordable housing and mobility solutions.
He added: “Governments play a key role in creating an enabling environment for much-needed and often overdue investment. Accelerating the deployment of impactful urban solutions. It is essential that we work with local and regional governments to strengthen urban finance options and develop appropriate mechanisms for cities.”
Suwon City Mayor Lee Jae-joon also participated as one of the local government representatives and shared his vision for the future of a sustainable city. “Building ‘sustainable cities’ is the only solution. We can tackle the climate crisis through carbon neutrality, withstand disasters like the pandemic, and confront social problems such as inequality and income disparity. , we need to build inclusive cities that protect the most vulnerable in society. Suwon will continue the spirit of innovation in sustainable development that it has built over the past two decades. ”
Attending more than 1,800 representatives from national and local governments, think tanks, the private sector, civil society and youth organizations from across the region, the three-day forum will explore innovative solutions, We aim to mobilize common action, effective partnership.
To this end, Ministers and senior officials from Member States also today High-level communiqué for sustainable urban development in the Asia-Pacific region It reflects the regional consensus on sustainable urban development. This communiqué aims to promote cities in Asia and the Pacific as engines of progress.
Promoting integrated urban and territorial planning, multi-level governance for climate resilience, inclusive urban policies for vulnerable groups, enabling an enabling environment for urban finance, and digital innovation. is emphasized. Building on the recommendations from the Forum’s main report, it calls for strengthened partnerships that include all stakeholders.
This year’s Forum marks an important milestone, marking 30 years since the first Forum was organized to highlight the great potential of cities in the region. APUF-8 is organized by ESCAP and Suwon City in strategic partnership with the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, Habitat for Humanity International, CityNet, and a wide range of support organizations . Partner organization.
For more information: https://www.apuf8.org/
Read the main report. https://bit.ly/FutureCitiesAP2023
See the minutes: www.youtube.com/unescap
For multimedia assets: https://bit.ly/APUF8-Trello
