The three big commitments for supporting the new urban agenda, Habitat III, were outlined by European Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Cretu on Thursday 20 October in Quito, Ecuador – namely implementation of the EU’s new urban agenda, drawing up a harmonised global definition for cities, and promoting sustainable urban development cooperation between cities in the EU and those outside the EU.
The commissioner spoke on the first two points earlier in the week (see EUROPE 11649). When it comes to implementing the new urban agenda, Cretu is counting on the new governance set out in the Amsterdam Pact (see EUROPE 11561), which is based on 12 thematic partnerships. Four partnerships were set up in May, and four more are expected to be launched in 2017 (see EUROPE 11552).
Coming up with a common definition will make it possible to compare data and set reference criteria, along with allowing better follow-up, said Cretu. This is a hefty and tricky task because it is difficult to compare Shanghai with Antwerp, explained a close source. In this connection, the Commission pledges to draw up with the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) a definition based on a study it published with the OECD in 2012. The definition is likely to be three-pronged: the number of inhabitants, the density and the degree of urbanisation (using the DEGURBA classification).
On the third commitment, the Commission wants to encourage partnerships among European and non-EU cities to draw up action plans and projects on shared priorities (such as transport infrastructure, health care and housing) in private-public partnerships. The Urbact network and the international urban cooperation programme (CUI) may serve as templates and an online network will be established, although no dates have been given.
The United Nations’ Habitat III conference opened in Quito on Monday 17 October and adopted a new global urban agenda on Thursday 20 October. This third UN conference (the first was in 1976) aims to breathe new life at global level into sustainable urbanisation in connection with the Paris Climate Agreement (COP 21) and the sustainable development programme for 2030. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)