The Launch of the Council on Urban Initiatives: A new initiative to encourage progressive policymaking at the city level
The Council was launched in November 2021 to advocate for the greater integration of cities in global debates on redirecting our economies and societies towards ambitious social goals related to sustainability, health and justice.
The two-day launch, held in the British Academy in London, ended with a public event, Cities at the Crossroads, which was attended by a small group of in-person guests and live streamed to a wider virtual audience.
Cities at the Crossroads was opened by co-chairs Ricky Burdett and Mariana Mazzucato, followed by an address from Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat. Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona, Claudia López, Mayor of Bogotá, and Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown participated in a mayor’s roundtable on environmental challenges and social justice, moderated by Leilani Farha, Director of The Shift.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres and WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus delivered virtual addresses, expressing their commitment to the Council and stating its important role in helping to shape the international agenda on city governance, planning and design.
The Council on Urban Initiatives has an important role in reframing how we think about cities and urban governance, shape the international agenda, share best practices and fast-track innovation… The United Nations is fully committed to working with you to connect the local with the global and together achieve green, just and healthy cities that help us to deliver on our global commitments.”
During the, event the Council released a launch publication, outlining the Council’s mission and objectives. It contained a section on urban analytics illustrating comparative challenges related to spatial growth and governance, justice, health and the environment across 22 global cities.
