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Committed to Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements for All
In Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC
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Annual2017
-“OBSERVANCE OF“WORLD CITIES DAY 2017”-
The 12th Global Forum on Human Settlements &
Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony
Announcement
Theme: Effectively Planning and Managing Urban Spatial Development to
Implement 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and New Urban Agenda
October 30-31, 2017, UN headquarters, New York City
Background
The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) was successfully convened in Quito, Ecuador, from 17th–20th October 2016, bringing together over 36000 participants from around the globe including heads of State and Government and leaders from the UN system. The summit reinvigorated the global commitment to sustainable urbanization and adopted the “New Urban Agenda” that has mapped out the direction and development goals for cities in next 20 years.
The New Urban Agenda (NUA) set out a shared vision of cities for all, referring to the equal use and enjoyment of cities and human settlements, seeking to promote inclusivity and ensure that all inhabitants, of present and future generations, without discrimination of any kind, are able to inhabit and produce just, safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, resilient and sustainable cities and human settlements to foster prosperity and quality of life for all. It was emphasized in NUA that we must readdress the way we plan, finance, develop, govern and manage cities and human settlements and achieve the realization of the shared vision through building the innovative urban governance structure and effectively planning and managing urban spatial development, thus achieving the shared vision and the 2030 Sustainable Develop Goals (SDGs), notably SDG11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, as well as urban and cities related targets under other SDGs.
Based on this global consensus, the 12th Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS - XII) that will be centered on “Effectively Planning and Managing Urban Spatial Development to Implement 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and New Urban Agenda” is scheduled to 2 take place as an important event to celebrate the World Cities Day 2017 on 30-31 October at the UN headquarters in New York City. GFHS - XII is committed to creating a global platform for high-level dialogues, sharing advanced standards, technology and success experience, enhancing capacity building, fostering partnership and facilitating effective actions.
Objectives
provide a high-level platform for information exchange and capacity building for global stakeholders on how to respond to the challenges of unsustainable cities, rapid urbanization and climate change;
highlight innovative and alternative sustainability approaches, policies and actions, and identify best practices in this regard;
promote the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda at local and city level; and
contribute to promoting bilateral and multilateral exchanges and cooperation of economy and technology on sustainable urban development and climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the green development in the context of “One Belt, One Road ”.
Co-organizers
Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS)
Permanent Mission of the Gambia to the UN
Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN (AU)
United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)
World Association Of Non-governmental Organizations (WANGO)
Better City Institute (BCI)
Topics
GFHS - XII will address and tackle the following issues:
1. Integrated, polycentric, and balanced territorial development policies, strategies and practices
2. Safe, accessible, green and quality public spaces
3. Improve city environment and resilience through resource efficiency
4. International Green Model City Initiative
5. Low-carbon city and new energy development
6. Inclusive urban renewal
7. Sustainable tourism
8. Smart city
9. Characteristic town
10. Women and Children in the Rapidly Urbanizing World, etc.
Activities
GFHS – XII will consist of closed-door meeting, opening ceremony, high-level dialogue, thematic sessions, on-site demonstration, awards ceremony, field visits and studies.
Sustainable Cities And Human Settlements Awards 2017 (SCAHSA 2017)
“Sustainable Cities And Human Settlements Awards Ceremony 2017” will be ceremoniously hosted as a highlight of GFHS - XII. SCAHSA is a worldwide prize annually awarded by Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) and supported by UN agencies including UN Environment, through its SBCI and GI-REC initiatives, and it is focused on promoting the implementation of 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, notably goal 11, recognizing Awardees and recommending their prominent progress and valuable experience over the course of becoming more sustainable.
SCAHSA implies that the wind of the green flies around the world. It has been successfully held for eleven times to date and the awardees come from different parts of the world, providing highlevel interactive platforms for insiders to share and spread knowledge and experience, and exerting significant exemplary effects. GFHS Secretariat accepts award applications all year round, from cities, towns, scenic spots, communities, buildings, planning and design sector, green technology, and individuals including children.
Targeted Participants
GFHS - XII is planned to convene around 400 participants. As in the past, we will seek to engage all relevant stakeholders including senior officials from the UN and other international organizations, leading policy and decision makers from national and regional governments, ambassadors and diplomats, city mayors, business leaders, investors, professionals, high-level representatives from the sector of planning and design, transportation, architecture, energy, tourism, real estate development, and environmental protection, and women and children representatives.
Contact
Address:10 Waterside Plaza, Apt 20-E New York,10010
Telephone: +1 917-256-1364， 845-853-2340
Contact: Ms. sabrina.he, Ms. Chen Xin
Contact: Mr. Robert Standard
E-Mail: rmstandard@gmail.com
Appendix
Global Forum on Human Settlements
The Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization, legally chartered in the State of New York, USA. GFHS is committed to Sustainable Cties and Human Settlements For All. GFHS holds the Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC, and is an Associate Partner of World Urban Campaign by UN-Habitat. Also, GFHS is a member of both United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI).
GFHS has been devoting to build a world platform for dialogue on sustainable cities and human settlements by sharing and demonstrating experiences, knowledge and practices. The annual conference of Global Forum on Human Settlements has been successfully held in China, the United States, Brazil, Germany, Colombia and Ecuador for 11 consecutive years. More than 12,500 representatives from all sectors of society have attended the Forums, including Pliticians，ministers, UN officials, mayors, scholars, professionals and business leaders. For instance, the 10th Annual Forum, served as an observance of the “World Cities Day 2015” was successfully held at UN headquarters in October 2015. After that, the 11th Global Forum on Human Settlements was productively concluded as an important parallel event of Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador.
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