Prosperity, People and Planet in the Cities

Today and tomorrow, July 21st, seventy mayors from allover the world are conveying in Rome to discuss about climate change and the commitment of cities on this challenge.

The main goal of tomorrow’s workshop, organised by the the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network on Cities and the Sustainable Development Agenda, is to put moral pressure on the UN to make sure that the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will be approved by the UN in September 2015 and in the Paris December COP-21 Summit and to give enough weight to two dramatic emergencies: climate change and modern slavery, presented as two linked phenomena.

The SDG 11, the so-called “Urban Goal”, demands for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Particularly the proposed target 11.7 focuses on Public Space: “by 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities”.

Tomorrow the works will be opened by the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, and the Mayor of New York city, Bill de Blasio.

The session on “Urban inequality, human development & social inclusion” will be chaired by Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN Habitat, and the final remarks will be presented by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute of Columbia University.