U20: 25 cities commit to work with the G20 in response to major global challenges
18.04.2018
Inaugural U20 Mayoral Summit to take place in Buenos Aires in October, ahead of the G20 Heads of State Summit hosted by Argentina
Inaugural U20 Mayoral Summit to take place in Buenos Aires in October, ahead of the G20 Heads of State Summit hosted by Argentina
April 18, 2018
Cities will contribute more to the G20 process this year than ever before thanks to a new Urban 20 (U20) initiative that promotes dialogue and cooperation between 25 global cities and G20 nations. In a joint statement published today, the mayors of leading cities from G20 nations ask G20 leaders to work jointly on key global development issues including climate action, the future of work and social integration and inclusion. Signatories call on national governments to work with cities to achieve common goals, which include pursuing the full and rapid implementation of the Paris Agreement, addressing the challenges generated by the gig economy, pursuing gender equality and narrowing inequality gaps, among others. As of April 18th 2018, 20 U20 cities have already signed the Joint Statement: Berlin, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Durban, Hamburg, Jakarta, London, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Montreal, New York City, Paris, Rio deJaneiro, Rome, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo and Tshwane.
“Urban 20 reflects the commitment and contributions of cities to tackle global challenges. Cities can provide solutions that improve the quality of life of people around the world: Urban 20 seeks to enrich the G20process with an urban perspective, and to explore together policies for a better world”, said Mayor of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta.
“U20 is an innovative tool for cities and national governments for fighting the major challenges of our time”, said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and C40 Chair. “Together, we can work to find concrete solutions tobuild more inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities. Mayors of major cities offer to share their experienceand solutions in tackling climate change–which affects particularly those who are the most vulnerable–financing social inclusion, combatting gentrification, supporting local economy and involving our citizens,especially women who are our common priority”.
“U20 gives cities a unique platform to showcase their ambitious commitments and innova tive solutions toreduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase resilience, and enhance the quality of life of urban citizens,”said Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. “By partnering with national governments, mayors and city leaders can do even more to make our cities and our planet greener, healthier and more prosperous for all.”
“The challenges faced by our people and planet in the urban era necessitate a repositioning of the urban agenda in the international debate. Renewed financing, multi-level governance and multi-stakeholder partnerships fostered by all levels of government will be instrumental to achieve sustainability. Including these dimensions in the G20 discussions is extremely timely and will, no doubt, contribute to finding sustainable solutions”, Parks Tau, President of UCLG
The next U20 Sherpa Meeting will take place in New York on June 4-5, 2018, and the inaugural U20 Mayoral Summit will take place in Buenos Aires on 29-30 October 2018, one month ahead of the G20 Heads of State Summit hosted by Argentina.
For general enquiries about U20 please contact: [email protected]
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About U20
Urban 20 (U20) is an initiative developed in 2017 under the leadership of Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta of Buenos Aires and Mayor Anne Hidalgo of Paris. Launched on 12 December 2017 at the One Planet Summit in Paris, the initiative is chaired by Buenos Aires and Paris, and convened by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), in collaboration with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). It seeks to highlight the expertise of cities in a range of global development issues, to contribute solutions to t he G20 and to formulate clear recommendations to national leaders. It is readily supported by 25 cities: Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Durban, Hamburg, Jakarta, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, Montreal, Moscow, New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Sydney, Tokyo, Tshwane. The U20 effort is supported by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), and advised by the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Open Government Partnership (OGP), 100 Resilient Cities and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
About C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group
C40 Cities connects 96 of the world’s greatest cities. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on tackling climate change and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing and economic opportunities of urban citizens. The current chair of the C40 is Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo; and three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. C40’s work is made possible by our three strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and Realdania. To learn more about the work of C40 and our cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities or Instagram @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.
About United Cities and Local Government (UCLG)
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) is the world organization of local and regional governments and their associations, representing and defending their interests on the world stage. UCLG’s network of members represents 70% of the world’s total population and is present in all world regions: Africa, Asia – Pacific, Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, the Middle East and West Asia, and North America; organized into 7 regional sections, 1 metropolitan section and 1 Forum of regions. This network includes over 240,000 towns, cities, regions and metropolises, and over 175 associations of local and regional governments in 140 countries. Among UCLG’s key areas of political interest are: local democracy, climate change and environmental protection, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, local finance, urban development and city diplomacy in peace building.