Vientiane, Lao PDR
The Vientiane International Mayors' Forum is co-organized by the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD).
Cities and other urban centers are contributing to sustainable development through economic growth, innovation, education and culture. Some eighty percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) is created in cities. Cities have great potential, and making the most of this potential is critical for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and for achieving the global sustainable development goals (SDGs).
At the Rio+20 - the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development - , U.N. Member States emphasized the importance of cities and metropolitan areas implementing sustainable urban planning, policies and designs. In September 2015, the world leaders adopted a new development agenda, entitled Transforming our world: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, outlining 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core. SDG 11 calls for "making cities and human settlements
inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable." Enhancing the achievement of SDG 11 poses many challenges and thus forms the main theme of the Forum.
The main objective of the Vientiane International Mayors Forum was to provide an international platform for an exchange of experiences among Mayors and other Leaders of Local Governments on the implementation of local level policies and projects to enhance the achievement of Sustainable Cities, as envisaged for implementing the Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11), and in line with the New Urban Agenda adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, in October last year.
The Vientiane International Mayors Forum was held on 15 March 2017. After a joint session with the 10th Regional EST Forum in Asia looking at policies for achieving smart, resilient, resilient and low-carbon cities, the Mayors Forum had a parallel sessions to the EST Forum, where fifty or so mayors and leaders of local governments presented experiences of their cities and discussed key questions and issues related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, focusing on Making Cities and Human Settlements Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Sustainable.
- Integrated Planning for Sustainable Urban Development (Dr. Sandra Ruckstuhl, Sustainable Development Solutions Network)
- Who is the winner in 2030? (SUC Programme China Office)
- Public Participation in Urban planning and Development (YBhg. Dato' Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Municipal Council of Seberang Perai)
- Public Participation on Urban Planning and Development (Hon. Mr. Mohamed Hilmy, Mayor, Matale Municipal Council)
- Public Participation in Urban Planning (Dr. Desmond W. Bikoko, Mayor of City of Lilongwe)
- Financing for SDG 11 (Dato James Chen Khay Syn, Mayor of Kuching City South)
- Sustainable Financing for SDG 11.2 (Auruto Ardila-Gomez, World Bank Group)
- Cultural and Natural Heriatage Conservation of Historical Center and Urban Langscape (Arq. Pablo Hernando Barzallo Alvarado, Cuenca, Ecuador)
- Ecomobility, level of Urban Innovation (Jae Joon Lee, Former Vice Mayor of Suwon)
- Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage and Historic Urban Landscapes and Provision of Recreational "Green" and other Public Spaces (Dr. Ralph D. Wahnschafft, Senior Advisor on Sustainable Development Policies)
- Creating Capitals as Livable Cities (Hon. Mr. Keophilavanh Aphaylath, Vientiane Vice Mayor)