Congress President Verbeek emphasized the crucial role of local and regional authorities in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11* (SDG 11) during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the United Nations on 12-13 July 2023 in New York. He called to work on the ability to prevent and adapt to crises and to make cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable as set out in the SDG11.
The adoption of a recommendation during the 44th Congress session, the joint Call for Action signed by major European associations and institutions of local and regional authorities, the Reykjavik Declaration, signed in the framework of the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe Heads of State and Government emphasized the importance of multi-level governance in delivering human rights and fundamental freedoms. "It is our strong belief that local and regional authorities can and must lead the transformation towards the achievement of all SDGs and we must and will continue advocating for it.", President Verbeek stated.
The Congress President welcomed the UN Secretary General's SDG Progress report, which recognized that local action is essential in delivering the promise of the SDGs. He encourages national governments to adopt the proposed draft Political Declaration to be adopted in at the SDG Summit in September, which commits to further localizing SDGs, enhancing integrated planning at local and sub-national levels, and fostering local partnerships.
On the margins of the Forum, the Congress President and Secretary General met with high representatives of the United Nations such as Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat or Mr Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator in order to exchange on the role of local and regional authorities in their respective areas of work.
See also:
- Speech by the President of the Congress on 12 July
- Speech by the President of the Congress on 13 July
- Programme of the High-level Political Forum 2023
- Contribution of the Congress to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
* SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
