UCLG World Council & World Forum of Regions
The meetings included the first World Forum of Regions, which addressed the unique role of regional governments in improving collaborative governance with national, city, and rural authorities.
Cities
More than one half of the world population lives in cities, and every country of the world is becoming increasingly urbanized. Urbanization—the gradual shift in residence of the human population from rural to urban areas—combined with overall growth of the world’s population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050. Close to 90% of this increase will take place in Asia and Africa, according to the United Nations. This trend is changing the landscape of human settlement, with significant implications for living conditions, the environment, and development.
As the world continues to urbanize, sustainable development depends increasingly on the successful management of urban growth. Many countries face challenges in meeting the needs of their growing urban populations, including housing, transportation, energy systems, and other infrastructure (e.g., water, sanitation, electricity, roads), as well as employment and basic services such as education and health care. Integrated policies to improve the lives of both urban and rural dwellers are needed, while strengthening the linkages between urban and rural areas, building on their existing economic, social, and environmental ties.
Events and Articles
Showing 11 - 20 of 47 results
Multilevel Action Pavilion at COP 26
Organized by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Scottish Government, more than 60 side events at the Glasgow Climate Change Conference followed the daily themes set out by the COP Presidency while providing a place for debate, knowledge exchange, and success stories of sub-national climate action and collaboration with other levels of government.
HLPF 2021 Local and Regional Governments’ Day and Forum
Transformation of work and evolving production and consumption patterns are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Local and Regional Governments are raising ambitions and actions on SDGs at the local level, through solidarity and multilevel governance.
2021 United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Executive Bureau Meetings
UCLG officially joined the UHC2030 initiative to achieve universal health care and progressed the proposed Lampedusa Charter, which aims to shift the narrative on migration to a human rights-based approach to mobility.
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Policy Councils Meeting 2021
Although local governments are at the forefront of responding to pressing challenges, such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, they often face constraints limiting their ability to respond to peoples’ needs. The UCLG Policy Councils aims to help local governments overcome some of these challenges.
Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Mayors Mechanism Networking Meeting: Enabling Local Solutions for Inclusive COVID-19 Response and Recovery
The session hosted by the Mayors Mechanism of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) highlighted the need for participation of local and regional governments in the development of migration policies, review of often restrictive national legal frameworks, and direct access by local and regional governments to international funding, in the particular context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Council 2020: The Role of the International Municipal and Regional Movement in COVID Times
UCLG World Council 2020 participants emphasized that a just, equitable, resilient and sustainable recovery in the post-COVID era cannot be achieved without local government playing a central role.
UN75 and Beyond: Inclusive Multilateralism and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) as a Tool
This virtual meeting will, on the occasion of the UN’s 75th anniversary on 24 October, provide space for a dialogue among urban leaders and UN officials to explore the innovative options the urban world offers to deliver on inclusive multilateralism towards 2030, with a focus on VLRs as an innovative tool.
Reactions of Local and Regional Governments to UN75 Report
This event discussed the findings of the Visioning Report UN 75: the Role of Local and Regional Governments in the Future Global Governance of the International System and how best to take them forward at the local, regional and global levels
Forum of Mayors 2020
The Forum of Mayors 2020, the first of its kind, brought together mayors and city leaders from around the world to share best practices and develop a shared vision for sustainable urban development. This need was amplified by the COVID-19 crisis, which revealed urban challenges, including the lack of green spaces, the lack of affordable and healthy housing, air pollution, and inadequate public transport systems.