The global population of cities is expected to increase by 2.5bn by 2050, with almost 50% of that projected to be in the Commonwealth. With cities accounting for 70% of global carbon emissions, tackling rapid and unplanned urbanisation is essential if we are to achieve our climate objectives and the Sustainable Development Goals. Well planned, well managed and inclusive cities can reduce poverty and drive national economies, as well as play a critical role in decarbonisation efforts. However, working at the city scale presents particular and complex challenges.
This event aims to convene a pioneer cohort of leaders and specialists to agree a collective way forward to advance sustainable urbanisation, drawing especially on the 2022 Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation and working together to develop a framework through which to optimise the opportunities of urban growth in Commonwealth countries and from which other regions, countries and cities can learn.
This important dialogue will bring together a diverse group of senior stakeholders from Commonwealth member states and beyond to establish a transdisciplinary, cross-sector, action-oriented, knowledge sharing partnership to address the combined challenges of climate change and rapid urbanisation, in particular among low income, rapidly urbanising cities where both vulnerabilities and opportunities are most acute.
The cohort will reflect different contexts, including small and vulnerable states, small islands, and rapidly growing countries in Africa, linked by the need for sustainable urbanisation as a key strategy for addressing the climate crisis. The dialogue aims towards creating a roadmap to deliver a transformative programme for cities that will have real impact at scale supporting practical implementation of the 2022 Declaration, while also providing a model for non-commonwealth countries to replicate.
Organised by Wilton Park and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative (CSCI).
The CSCI is a collaboration between the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP), the Commonwealth Engineers Council (CEC) and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), working in collaboration with the Government of Rwanda and The King’s Foundation.
In partnership with
