The first ever Cities Summit, which was co-hosted by UN-Habitat, UN Environment, ICLEI, UCLG and Cities Alliance, took place during the recent UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi. Held under the theme “Innovation for Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Multi-level and Integrated Urban Systems”, it looked in particular at how circularity, good governance, integration, technology, financial readiness and community engagement are needed to create liveable and sustainable cities, according to a UN-Habitat press release.
In her opening speech, UN-Habitat executive director Maimunah Mohd Sharif said that she is “very pleased” that the summit will now have a prominent place at the UN Environment Assembly, explaining that “it is our cities that have the most severe challenges arising from human-made climate change will have to be confronted”.
The summit was attended by mayors, ministers, civil society representatives and private sector leaders, including IKEA’s sustainability manager Lena Pripp-Kovac, who spoke about the evolving concept of home: “Our home is not four walls anymore. Our city is our home.” She also stressed the importance of including citizens in designing cities, arguing that it is only at this point that we can talk about sustainable consumption.
