In the last Habitat III, in October, the New Urban Agenda has been adopted by some 170 countries. It constitutes a global framework for action that will inform the United Nations' sustainable urbanization strategy over the next twenty years.
Keep reading this blog post and understand better!
What is Habitat III?
Habitat III, held in Quito, was the United Nations conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development. At this conference, the New Urban Agenda was adopted, which will reflect the sustainable strategies of the United Nations in the future.
Pre-conference period
The two years leading up to the conference were marked by the action of the WBCSD and his co-chair Arcadis. Both led efforts to encourage contributions from private sector in the development of the New Urban Agenda.
The New Agenda recognizes the importance of these companies as promoters of sustainable urbanization and invites everyone to apply their innovative potential and resources to implementing this ambitious agenda.
Positive reactions
The agenda was praised for its focus on strengthening the role of local governments in leading urban development. It also drew praise for embracing a progressive vision of equity and rights and for emphasizing strong urban planning principles to create sustainable cities socially, environmentally and financially.
Fears about the New Urban Agenda
Some criticisms, however, have emerged regarding the New Urban Agenda, due to the lack of inclusions, such as: specific actions to complement the general guidelines, metrics or mechanisms for monitoring progress and implementation.
There was also concern about the degree to which the New Urban Agenda was interconnected with the ODS (Sustainable Development Goals) and Paris Agreement, particularly in relation to its ability to provide a clear roadmap for the implementation of these two key agreements in cities.
Monitoring and implementation reviews
Although it is a voluntary agreement, the New Urban Agenda provides for some initial monitoring and review mechanisms. For this monitoring, the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) will be responsible for preparing a quadrennial implementation report, to be coordinated by UN-Habitat.
The first of the reports is scheduled for 2018, a timeline that overlaps with the 9th World Urban Forum and the United Nations review of the ODS, which in 2018 should focus on Objective 11, relating to cities.
What's new in the New Urban Agenda
The document calls on the various stakeholders involved in this major challenge of implementing sustainable urbanization strategies at a global level. The New Urban Agenda proposes bringing together Member States, multilateral organizations, local governments, the private sector and civil society.
It also establishes a long-term vision, integrated and people-centered, aligned with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. It is committed to empowering local governments to lead sustainable development. It supports a proactive stance to strengthen resilience and encompasses concepts such as resource efficiency, circular economy and ecosystem-based approaches.
With the aim of improving sustainable practices, the New Urban Agenda arrives with extremely important concepts and implementations for the future of companies and society.
