Cities to Rio+20: ICLEI World Congress ends with a call for a transition to a green, inclusive urban economy
Presentations and experiences of cities from around the world at the ICLEI World Congress 2012 proved that in the last 20 years local advances in implementing sustainable policies were more meaningful than those at the global level. Local governments should be recognized for their critical role in policy implementation, as drivers of sustainable development and as agents of change.
This was the basic premise of the ‘Message from the Congress to Rio+20’ document, approved by participants in Belo Horizonte on the closing day of the ICLEI World Congress. Strategically linked to the Rio+20 themes, the message highlights the readiness of cities to seize all opportunities to drive the transition towards a resilient and inclusive green urban economy that addresses poverty alleviation and environmental justice.
The message, signed by more than 80 mayors and including a number of calls upon the UN Member states meeting at Rio+20 , was presented to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on 21 June as part of the Cities Leadership Day of ICLEI’s Global Town Hall at Rio+20.
ICLEI at Rio+20 - Key highlights
• The successful advocacy advances by ICLEI towards and during the negotiations resulting in strong clauses related to local and subnational government in the final Rio+20 outcome document.
• The ICLEI ‘Rio+20 Global Town Hall’ which took place from 18-22 June, hosted by the State of Rio de Janeiro and endorsed by UNDESA, UNEP, the National Front of Mayors of Brazil (FNP) and others. The program saw 24 sessions with over hundred speakers, and culminated in special session “Sustainability Leadership for the Urban World 2030” with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, addressed by a mayoral panel from ICLEI Member cities Belo Horizonte, Durban, Mexico City and others.
• The participation of ICLEI mayors, officials and staff in over 25 side events organised by international partner organisations, as well as the successful official UN side event coordinated by ICLEI, entitled “Decisions we need for the city of 2030” – all highlighting the role cities can play in different areas of sustainability.
• A dedicated ‘Cities Day’ session at the Rio Conventions Pavilion on 22 June organised by ICLEI, entitled ‘Sustainable cities through integrated local solutions’ including both mayoral and technical panel discussions which demonstrated outstanding commitment to sustainable development.
• A range of launches, including the GreenClimateCities initiative and, together with partners, the Global Initiative on Urban Resilience.
“The road to sustainability runs through the world’s towns and cities. By building sustainable towns and cities, you will build global sustainability”, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, appealing to Mayors to further intensify their work beyond Rio+20.
