URBAN 20 SUMMIT

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Context

Overview of the Urban 20 (U20) Mayoral Summit that took place in Ahmedabad, India, from 7-8 July.

Details

• The Urban 20 (U20) Mayoral Summit, hosted by Ahmedabad, took place from 7-8 July.
• The summit concluded with the handover of the Communiqué from the Mayors to G20 leaders.
• The Communiqué received the highest ever number of endorsements for any U20 Communiqué, with 105 cities endorsing it.

The Communiqué and Priorities

• The Communiqué serves as an action agenda for the six priorities collectively identified by U20 cities.
• The priorities include:

1.Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors.

2.Accelerating climate finance.

3.Championing local culture and economy.

4.Ensuring water security.

5.Catalyzing digital urban futures.

6.Reinventing frameworks for urban planning and governance.

• The Communiqué is aligned with the G20 theme of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (One Earth, One Family, One Future).

Minister's Address

• Hon’ble Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, emphasized the importance of cities in achieving global goals related to sustainability, inclusivity, and climate resilience.
• The Minister highlighted nine areas for cities to focus on in order to work towards a sustainable future.

G20 Sherpa's Perspective

• G20 Sherpa, Shri Amitabh Kant, stressed the role of cities in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future.
• He emphasized the need for adequate infrastructure finance and better urban planning to address the challenges faced by cities.

Handover Session

• The handover of the Communiqué was moderated by the U20 convenors, C40 Cities and UCLG.
• The Hon’ble Mayor of Ahmedabad handed over the Communiqué to Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Shri Amitabh Kant.

Support and Organization

• The Summit was hosted with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt. of India, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
• The U20 Technical Secretariat played a crucial role in organizing the Summit.
• Several spotlight sessions, thematic sessions, and closed-door sessions with city mayors and heads of delegates were held to discuss pertinent urban issues.

Record-breaking U20 Cycle

• The current U20 cycle set a record with over 50 articles, 6 extensive research papers, six white papers, and six U20 bulletins released.
• Technical papers and documents, including the Policy Brief on Mainstreaming Gender in U20 and the Ahmedabad Resilient City Climate Action Plan, were launched during the Summit.

Success and Recognition

• Participants unanimously agreed that this U20 cycle surpassed all previous cycles in various aspects.
• The summit was lauded for its achievements in advancing sustainable urban development.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1938397