***We are happy to announce that Mr Kumaresh Misra, Deputy General Secretary of UN Habitat III, will participate in our conference***

June 26th 2017, Berlin

 „Cities are the places where the fight for sustainable development will be won or lost“. 

Ban Ki Moon

After the adoption of the Agenda 2030 including the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, the HABITAT III conference of the United Nations on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development was held in October 2016. As part of the conference, the New Urban Agenda was resolved to contribute to a sustainable and inclusive urban development on a global scale.

The cities play a significant role for the implementation of the sustainable development goals, as already half of the world population are living in cities. The United Nations estimate that until the year 2050 approximately 75% of the world population will live in cities. Beside the challenges to shape urbanization eco-friendly and sustainable, it is relevant to create liveable cities, which provide humane work and living conditions and contribute to social participation for all.

Like the Agenda 2030 also the New Urban Agenda follows the guiding principle to “leave no one behind”. The subjects accessibility and inclusion are well embedded in the New Urban Agenda. It offers an important precondition for an urban development which includes every single person.

The development of an accessible infrastructure, mobility, communication and information is not only an advantage for people with disabilities, but is for the benefit of all people - especially for the elderly people. Accessibility is a key issue for the future in light of the ageing process of the world population.

How to implement the New Urban Agenda sustainable and inclusive, shall be presented at the conference in terms of good-practice examples from Ecuador, Indonesia, Brasilia, Mexico and Germany. How can municipal and urban networks be used to contribute to the implementation of an accessible and inclusive urban development and how can Germany internationally contribute to an inclusive implementation of the New Urban Agenda - these are questions, which shall be discussed in the context of the conference.

>> Please download the official invitation letter and the conference programme here (.pdf 500 KB)