Sustainable Cities: Empowering People, Enabling Prosperity and Protecting the Planet
Pope Francis
Sustainable Cities Empowering People Enabling Prosperity and Protecting the Planet
Special Symposium on Climate Change and Sustainable Development Convened the Pontifical Academy of Sciences with UN SDSN with the support of the #urbanSDG Campaign (21-22 July 2015)
Sustainable development is a transformational agenda, based on the idea of a dignified life for all, and creating the preconditions for people to flourish. The 193-members of the United Nations have worked over the last two years to define 17 far-reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for all people in all countries to provide pathways to balanced sustainable development across economic, social and environmental domains.
These goals revolve around three themes: empowering people, eradicating poverty and protecting human dignity; shared prosperity and decent, fair jobs for all; protecting the planet and tackling climate change. The world’s cities, urban areas and human settlements have a vital role in making this possible.
Pope Francis is a unique ally in the pursuit of sustainable development, who has done much to amplify the message of climate change and environmental destruction in his recent Encyclical LAUDATO SI’. A high-level two-day event, convened by the Pontifical Academy with SDSN at the Vatican in Rome on 21-22 July 2015, showcased contemporary challenges facing cities and demonstrate how the bold leadership of cities and local governments could help the world achieve the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially the urban SDG. More than 300 people participated, including mayors from all continents, ambassadors, leading urban practitioners, academics and scientists.
The first day included presentations from the Mayors of Rome, New York, Sao Paolo, Paris, Johannesburg, Bogota, Madrid, San Francisco, Kochi, Boston, Kingston, Stockholm and many more. Each focused on their cities’ actions to combat climate change and modern slavery – a deep personal concern for the Pontiff.
Towards the end of the day the conclave was graced by Pope Francis who shared his vision for a new human ecology, which involves much more than just ‘being green.’ He called on cities to lead from the ground up, forcing national governments to act.
A special symposium on the second day was organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and UN SDSN. Aromar Revi, Director of the IIHS and Co-Chair of SDSN’s thematic group on Sustainable cities, helped frame this dialogue as part of the ongoing global Campaign for a #urbanSDG.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the PAS opened proceedings explaining the SDG agenda and the importance of cities committing to fulfil the goals. Keynote speeches were delivered by the Mayors of New York and Rome. Mayor de Blasio spoke about OneNYC, a new strategy for integrated sustainable development in New York and it’s alignment with the SDG agenda. He also announced a commitment for New York to cut emissions by 40% by 2030 (an acceleration on the original 80% by 2050 plan).
Over the course of the day there were four panels, chaired by Laurence Tubiana, Special Representative of the French Government to CoP21; Juan Clos, Executive Director of UN Habitat; Aromar Revi, Director of IIHS and co-chair of the SDSN Thematic Group on Sustainable Cities and Vux Jeremic, former President of the UN General Assembly. Mayors across the world spoke on the need to focus on climate change and decarbonization, social inclusion and inequalities, inclusive economic development and jobs, and finally, governance and financing.
Bishop Sanchez and Professor Sachs concluded the day by requesting the participants to sign a declaration summarizing the proceedings and stating their intent to form an alliance in support of SDG implementation. The draft declaration was approved by those present in the room at the close of proceedings. It will be made available on the SDSN website shortly.
More information on both days proceedings are available on the SDSN and PAS websites here:
http://www.endslavery.va/content/endslavery/en/events/cities.html
Translations of the agenda are available on the PAS website: please click on the ES button in the top right hand corner