INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW THE NEW URBAN AGENDA

disP - The Planning Review, 2016

Town Planning Review, 2020

In this unprecedented era of increasing urbanization, and in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and other global development agreements and frameworks, we have reached a critical point in understanding that cities can be the source of solutions to, rather than the cause of, the challenges that our world is facing today. If well-planned and well-managed, urbanization can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for both developing and developed countries. Foreword to the New Urban Agenda, (UN HABITAT, 2017, p.IV, added emphases). The quote above taken from the foreword to the UN's New Urban Agenda (NUA) adopted in 2016 epitomises how, in the 'urban century', there is an increasing recognition that the sustainable planning and development of cities is no longer solely a matter of local, regional and national concern. What happens in cities in the remainder of this century will impact more widely on a host of international and global agendas, notably those relating to 'green' challenges such as responding to the climate emergency, biodiversity, resource use, public health (e.g. addressing air pollution), and, promoting greater environmental justice. Reflecting this, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UN, 2015, p.26), focuses on making 'cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable', whilst many of the other goals will require particular attention to how urban places develop if they are to be achieved. Part 1 of the NUA-The Quito Declaration on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements for All emphasises in its title the social goal that sustainable cities and human settlements should be 'for all'. Part 2, the Quito Implementation Plan for the New Urban Agenda, also reflects the three dimensions of sustainability including promoting 'Environmentally sustainable and resilient urban development'. The signatories recognise that 'cities and human settlements face unprecedented threats from unsustainable consumption and production patterns, loss of biodiversity, pressure on ecosystems, pollution, natural and human-made disasters, and climate change and its related risks, undermining the efforts to end poverty in all its forms and dimensions and to achieve sustainable development' (UN HABITAT, 2017, p.18). The wider significance of what happens in cities is again emphasised with the document stating that: 'Given cities' demographic trends and their central role in the global economy, in the mitigation and adaptation efforts related to climate change, and in the use of resources and ecosystems, the way they are planned, financed, developed, built, governed and managed has a direct impact on sustainability and resilience well beyond urban boundaries'. Other UN initiatives such as the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning (UN HABITAT, 2015, p.20) similarly state: 'Urban and territorial planning contributes to increased human security by strengthening environmental and socioeconomic resilience, enhancing mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change and improving the management of natural and environmental hazards and risks'

United Nations , 2019

This draft document to be read aloud, recorded and live-streamed for feedback towards the outcome document. Facilitated discussion to follow the reading. This year, we concentrate specically on Sustainable Development Goal 11: "to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030." We underscore the need to understand cities and communities as place-making, social cohesion, equitable prosperity and environmental spaces central to the achievement of all SDGs and not only SDG11. We uplift the importance of inclusivity, peace, education, and the youth; explore the ethical development of economy, infrastructure and technology needed to support sustainable and balanced rural and urban growth; and highlight the collaboration of governments, civil society, and the United Nations in this work. We stress the urgency for climate action. For each of these, we arm our beliefs, urge others to partner with us, and commit to action in order to uplift the human spirit, create humane cities for people to ourish and enhance the quality of life for all. Livestream recording at UN TV first week of September 2019.

Springer International Publishing eBooks, 2023

Problems to solve, objectives, and policy actions are the main components of the policy agenda of local strategies. The European framework for sustainable urban development sustains that urban policy initiatives have to pay attention to five main policy sectors to promote sustainable urban development: physical space, economic development,

2020

Current Urban Studies, 2020

Followed by two previous conferences 20 and 40 years earlier, the Habitat III conference convened in Quito in 2016 to tackle global urban challenges. With cities experiencing ever-increasing levels of poverty, inequality, and vulnerability to climate change, Habitat’s New Urban Agenda outlines its priorities for sustainable urban development considering current urban realities. This paper aims to assess the changing dynamics that have paved the road towards Habitat III and to evaluate the ongoing prospects for its effective policy implementation by analyzing: 1) the changing development paradigms that have informed the three meetings, and 2) the nature, adequacy and influence of Habitat policy frameworks. Our analysis elucidates the weak commitment of nations at framing and implementing policies that help advance past Habitat’s agendas. This leads us to conclude that local governments may be better suited to promote just and sustainable development. Promising policymaking may occur if governments can intersect the principles of the New Urban Agenda with other global agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, it is relatively clear four years after Habitat III, that local commitment to these principles is not uniform either and that only certain world regions are actively participating in their implementation.

Sustainability, 2015

Since the start of the 21st century, humanity has been a predominantly urban species. This Special Issue is about the future of cities and how urbanization will develop when based on principles of sustainability. It explores the underlying dimensions of the transformation of existing cities and the design of low carbon green precincts and their urban systems. The view of the papers presented in this Special Issue is holistic and takes questions of social sustainability into account. This editorial highlights the contents and methodologies of 13 selected papers, while presenting diverse issues in strategies, concepts and policies for sustainable urban development. Keywords: high-performance low carbon precincts; integration of low carbon technologies into social and behavioral context; complex urban systems; resilient communities; sustainable consumption; urban microclimates

City, 1996

Environmental Quality Council (EQC) Meeting No 125, 2018

Malaysia will contribute towards strengthening partnerships between various stakeholders for development of Malaysia Urban Agenda for the next 20 years and beyond. Malaysia is on the right track towards achieving the global 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda. The current five-year development plan, the 11th MP formulated with People as the centrepiece of all development efforts, in many aspects mirrors the multi-dimensional nature of the SDGs and will serve as an overarching and guiding policy for sustainable development in this country. Malaysia is committed to participate in Habitat III in order to demonstrate the benefits of a sustainable economic pathway for rapidly urbanising communities. Malaysia will contribute towards strengthening partnerships between various stakeholders in the quest for development of Malaysia New Urban Agenda for the next 20 years and beyond. Malaysia is committed to support and implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Looking at the current development strategies and goals of the country, Malaysia is on the right track towards achieving the global 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. The Malaysian Government has tied implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to 11th Malaysia Plan as the centrepiece and guiding policy of national development efforts. The government has always adopted balanced development approach that gives equal emphasis to both economic growth and the wellbeing that well refers to a standard of living and quality of life that addresses an individual’s socioeconomic, physical and psychological needs.t is a commitment to pursue development in a more sustainable manner form the start, rather than a more conventional and costly model to ‘grow first, clean up later’. A reinforced commitment to green growth will ensure that Malaysia’s precious environment and natural endowment are conserved and protected for present and future generations.Robust economic growth is crucial to ensure broad-based economy, producing high value goods and services, will generate the high paying jobs associated with an advanced nation. The economy must be placed on a solid foundation to withstand external shocks and generate undisrupted prosperity for the people. Habitat III is adopt a New Urban Agenda that aimed at enhancing the contribution of cities to sustainable development, and at ensuring that cities are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Malaysia will work to implement this New Urban Agenda within our own countries and at the regional and global levels, taking into account different national realities, capacities, and levels of development, and respecting national legislations and practices, as well as policies and priorities. We adopt this New Urban Agenda as a collective vision and a political commitment to promote and realize sustainable urban development, and as a historic opportunity to leverage the key role of cities and human settlements as drivers of sustainable development in an increasingly urbanized world. Malaysia is preparing the 2nd National Urbanisation Policy (NUP) which aims to create a city of vision in line with the national vision in providing a safe and healthy living as well as peaceful and beautiful environment to promote socio-economic growth for a disciplined and developed Malaysian community.