The Mayoral Summit of the Urban 20 Engagement Group, which was held under India's G20 presidency, concluded yesterday with a renewed commitment and deeper collaboration towards the global goal of sustainable urban development.
This year's U20 tournament aimed for maximum participation. More than 430 delegates actively participated in the Mayoral Summit, which also welcomed 92 mayors and municipal leaders, including 57 from international cities, as well as more than 70 academic, think tank, and business organisations. The conclusion of six months of extensive dialogue and interaction was fitting.
This year, the U20 aimed to envision collective and adaptable urban governance approaches. There was an emphasis on the following six priority areas:
1. Promoting environmentally responsible conduct;
2. Providing water security;
3. Accelerating climate finance;
4. promoting regional culture;
5. reinventing urban governance frameworks; and
6. Catalysing digital urban futures.
The U20 discussions benefited tremendously from the Modi government's vision for urban revitalization, which has resulted in a transformation of our cities and towns that is unprecedented. In the past nine years, the Modi administration has implemented the world's largest planned urbanisation programme based on the universalisation and saturation of fundamental services, technological innovation, and economic opportunity.
Indian cities are now poised to assist the nation in achieving its economic and SDG goals as a result of various urban transformation missions. We have housed over 1 billion families. We have provided water and wastewater connections to over 10 billion households. Our underground system is currently the fifth largest in the globe. Our urban transport policies are devised to fulfil the Paris Agreement's obligations. It was a fortunate coincidence that the final event of this year's U20 cycle, the Mayoral Summit, took place in the country of Mahatma Gandhi, a pioneer of the low-carbon lifestyle.
The U20 Communiqué for 2023 was presented to the G20 Chair at the summit. This year's collaborative attitude of action was codified in the communiqué. The communiqué, endorsed by a record 105 cities around the world, is founded on the goal of "moving from intent to action" – a philosophy that the Honourable Prime Minister has implemented in our urban development initiatives. The communiqué provides a road map for global change by means of specific suggestions to establish inclusive and sustainable cities.
Building on the recommendations of previous communiqués, it emphasised the need to bridge the growing contradictions faced by cities, especially those in the Global South, which are emerging as dynamic engines of economic development. Under Ahmedabad's leadership, the U20 reaffirmed the all-encompassing impact of cities on humanity in the twenty-first century. From social justice to quality of life; infrastructure to sustainability; economic growth to reducing inequalities; climate action to health, cities will be the protagonists and the stage for all of humanity's endeavours.
This year's advocacy efforts conducted through the U20 platform are noteworthy. The most prominent of these was the discussion generated on the crucial topic of urban water security. Through the U20's numerous forums, delegates and experts were able to develop policy solutions to promote circularity in a variety of sectors. There was an emphasis on transitioning to strategic and performance-based planning frameworks that take into account complex urban patterns and deliver results related to climate change, economic growth, and inclusive development. In this cycle of U20, for the first time ever, discussions of local economic development and long-term resilience were centred on local culture and city identity.
The U20 Communiqué encapsulates these imperatives in addition to other recommendations on local governance, data and technology, river protection strategies, and green transition. It will inform the discussions of the G20 leaders and result in the creation of policies and funding platforms to address these issues.
India has transcended previous U20 cycles by leveraging its G20 presidency to raise widespread awareness of urban challenges in concert with a large number of knowledge partners, practitioners, industry leaders, and citizens. Through more than thirty events, webinars, thematic conferences, youth sabhas, and recordings, a normally behind-closed process was transformed into a public and participatory one. Close convergence with other G20 streams and engagement groups during U20 deliberations has insured that the core concerns of cities are reflected in the decisions and manifestos of these groups.
The unique approach of the Modi administration to the U20 and the innovative concepts that we have brought to the global discussion table will be India's legacy to the G20. India has added a developing nation's perspective to the global narrative on urban development while also establishing itself as a leader in terms of actual outcomes. The momentum generated during this U20 cycle will continue well beyond India's G20 presidency, propelling global action towards our shared objectives.
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