Sustainable Development of the Cities

September 28, WED  /  15:30 - 17:00

The COVID-19 pandemic and related economic crises have further underscored the vital importance of our relationship with nature.

From the tropics to the tundra, from the steppe to the savannah, cities have emerged as a global phenomenon on the geological scale. The survival of the natural world now depends largely on sustainability of the man-made world.

Already half of the world's population lives in urban areas, and it is projected that by mid-century it is likely to increase by more than 68%.

The expansion of cities has led to the intensive use of natural resources, the consumption of vast expanses, and the degradation and destruction of valuable ecosystems, thereby depriving us of many of the benefits. This trend is likely to continue in the future and will inevitably intensify unless we take immediate action and strengthen the role of legislative initiatives.

Cities and the environment, both within their own territories and in adjacent areas, strongly influence each other.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has reminded us how essential it is to live in harmony with nature. Healthy biodiversity and ecosystem services it provides are key to human well-being and to making our cities and regions more resilient, both during and after the pandemic, and they have a central role to play in our overall recovery.

The discussion session will include the following questions:

  • Cities as new centers of human development;
  • Transformation of urban space in view of human needs;
  • Cities as a place of concentration of financial, social and political well-being of the state;
  • Creation, preservation and development of a prosperous and favorable for human life urban environment;
  • Systemic development of cities within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Moderator

Speakers


* The Programme may be subject to change