Habitat III – A resumé

Habitat III – A resumé from the most important urban development in Quito (pictured). Image source: Shutterstock (#245776240)

The United Nations’ third Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) has come to an end. 30.000 representatives attended the conference from October, 17th-20th. Local leaders, representatives of organizations and the civil society as well as scientists and researchers were taking part in different events around the Habitat III. As usual the conference’s outcome is controversially discussed. The conference itself did not get that much attention in the media as for example the Paris Climate Agreement. This does not mean the outcomes are not equally important concerning where the world is heading in the future. Fact is the “New Urban Agenda” has been agreed by representatives from 190 states. Its key message is: “leaving no one behind”. The New Urban Agenda has a clear vision for future cities: diverse urban aspirations of prosperity and sustainable development are linked by the desire for equality. The Agenda is not binding though. Nevertheless it is a statement towards strengthening and focusing on urban development. The “Quito Implementation Plan” is a first step in the right direction. However, a great deal of work still needs to be done especially in terms of global cooperation, including local leaders and the civil society, taking action and put sustainable development and resilience into practice as well as making these meassures legally binding. This is not a distinct complex of problems only referring to the New Urban Agenda, it also applies for agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement, for example.

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