Foundation

HISTORY

CITYNET was created in response to the needs of growing cities in the Asia Pacific. In 1982 the 1st Regional Congress of Local Authorites for the Development of Human Settlements in the Asia Pacific was held in Yokohama, Japan.

The Yokohama Congress was organized with the sponsorship of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat) and hosted by the City of Yokohama. The Congress stressed the need to build cooperative links between local level governments and urban stakeholders.

CITYNET was officially established in 1987 with the support of UNESCAP, UNDP, UN-HABITAT, the City of Nagoya and 26 members. From that point on CITYNET has maintained its mission to promote cooperative links and partnerships throughout the Asia Pacific in order to improve the sustainability of our cities.

List of 26 members participated in ’87 Nagoya Declaration

Auckland (New Zealand)
Bangkok (Thailand)
Colombo (Sri Lanka)
Dhaka (Bangladesh)
Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam)
Hong Kong SAR (China; Domain of U.K at the time)
Jakarta (Indonesia)
Kathmandu (Nepal)
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
Lae (Papua New Guinea)
Lahore (Pakistan)
Metro Manila (Philippines)
Nagoya (Japan)

Nanjing (China)
Negombo (Sri Lanka)
Penang (Malaysia)
Pokahra (Nepal)
Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea)
Puttalam (Sri Lanka)
Semarang (Indonesia)
Shanghai (China)
Surabaya (Indonesia)
Sydney (Australia)
Tehran (Iran)
Weligama (Sri Lanka)
Yokohama (Japan)

Historical Highlights

1982

The 1st Regional Congress of Local Authorites for the Development of Human Settlments in the Asia Pacific is held

1987

CityNet is established with the support of UNESCAP, UNDP, UN-HABITAT, and 27 members

1989

At the Shanghai Congress , the CityNet Charter was adopted. UNESCAP undertook the functions of the Secretariat until the official CityNet Secretariat was established

1992

The CityNet Secretariat was established with the support of the City of Yokohama

1995

CityNet is granted ECOSOC Status of United Nations and the Bangladesh National chapter is established

1996

Waste water management project in Colombo, Sri, Lanka begins

1998

Sri Lanka National Chapter established

2000

First survey on urban poor conducted

2001

Nepal National Chapter established

2002

UN-HABITAT Scroll of Honour

2003

The Kuala Lumpur Regional Training Centre is established

2004

Awareness on Environmental Education in Asian Cities (AWAREE) Project established with the support of JICA. (Yokohama, Japan; Hanoi, Vietnam; Phnom Penh,Cambodia, Nanjing, China)

2005

Tsunami Relief Drive

2006

MDGs Cluster formed. Mumbai declared host of the Satellite Office

2007

CityNet 20th Anniversary. CITYNET & EUROCITIES Sign Agreement. Post-AWAREE Project begins

2012

CityNet 25th Anniversary

2013

CityNet Secretariat Relocates to Seoul, South Korea, India National Chapter established

2016

Urban SDG Knowledge Platform established with ESCAP and Seoul Metropolitan Government

2017

CityNet 30th Anniversary, Philippines National Chapter established

2021

CityNet Congress

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