ESCAP Stresses the Importance of Urban Development at 81st Session of the Commission
From 21-25 April, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific held its 81st Session on the theme of “Regional cooperation for resilient and sustainable urban development in Asia and the Pacific”. The session’s theme is directly aligned with the work CityNet has been doing to encourage the development of sustainable and resilient cities in the region and highlighting the innovations that local authorities are making in the field. CityNet mobilized Under Secretary General and CEO Mr. Jae Bok Chang and four member cities to Bangkok to support the Commission Session.
CityNet Amplified Local Government Representatives’ Voices for SDGs Governance
As its primary contribution to the Commission, CityNet collaborated with UNDP, UN-Habitat, ESCAP, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Royal Thai Government to host a side event on 24 April on the theme of “Unlocking the Potential of Multilevel Governance for SDG Localization in Asia Pacific.” In his opening remarks, Mr. Chang encouraged participants to improve multilevel governance strategies so local authorities in the region can better track their progress on the SDGs and set goals for what to achieve by 2030. Following a keynote by Arup which synthesized the governance needs expressed by Asia Pacific local governments, the panel session put national government representatives from Bangladesh and Thailand in conversation with local government officials. CityNet mobilized the local government representatives that included Mr. Tevita Boseiwaqa, Chairman of Suva City Council, Fiji; Ms. Joyce Sy, Planning Officer at Makati City; and Mr. Bhoop Dev Shah, Personal Secretary to the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Renewing Partnerships for Sustainable Cities
Being his first mission to the UN since joining CityNet, CEO Chang took the opportunity to meet with ESCAP Executive Secretary Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana who was accompanied by Mr. Sangmin Nam the Director of ESCAP’s Environment and Development Division. During the meeting, the two heads discussed the progress made on the joint activities outlined in the 2023 MOU between ESCAP and CityNet including the Urban SDG Knowledge Platform, SDG City Awards, and empowering cities to make significant contributions in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions for climate action. They also mutually agreed to support the 9th APUF and 10th CityNet Congress. CityNet also held partner meetings with the Manager of the Regional Programme at UNDP Mr. Gerd Trogemann, Head of the ESCAP East and Northeast Asia office Mr. Ganbold Baasanjav, UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Ms. Bernadia Tjandradewi, and newly appointed Director General of Yokohama International Affairs Bureau Mr. Ryoichiro Orii.
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CityNet delegates were also able to contribute to the thematic study plenary session and the Local and Regional Government Assembly organized by UCLG ASPAC under the Asia Pacific Local Government Coordinating Body (APLG) banner. During the thematic study plenary, ESCAP announced that the 9th Asia Pacific Urban Forum will be held in the CityNet President Emeritus City of Yokohama in the third quarter of 2027.
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The 81st Session of the ESCAP Commission encapsulated the work that CityNet has been doing for decades. As the region continues to urbanize, the urban focus of this session was appropriate and needed. The session therefore was a pivotal moment for partners and government representatives to convene to renew their commitment to manage cities to be more sustainable and more livable.
This article was written by Chris DiGennaro, Senior Programme Officer
