Urban 20 Engagement Group

The Urban 20 (U20) Engagement Group is a platform created to address urban issues in a more coordinated way and is part of the G20 dialogue process. The U20 focuses on the role of cities in achieving sustainable development goals and urbanization challenges. Recently, the U20 held its inaugural event in Ahmedabad, India. The meeting was attended by more than 70 delegates from 42 cities around the world, making it the largest recorded attendance since the inception of U20.

The Focus of the U20 Meeting

The U20 meeting focused on the role of cities in economic prosperity and ecological harmony. The event aimed to equip city governments with on-ground solutions to close the gap between policy and practice. The meeting highlighted that cities are at the forefront of addressing global challenges and are instrumental in achieving sustainable development goals.

Priority Areas

The U20 meeting reached consensus on 6 priority areas that need immediate attention. The first priority area is reducing carbon footprint by implementing sustainable urban mobility, promoting clean energy sources, and reducing waste generation. The second priority is conserving water resources, which includes promoting efficient water use, creating green spaces, and protecting aquatic ecosystems.

The third priority is accelerating climate financing by involving private investors, banks, and financial institutions in climate projects. The fourth priority is rethinking regulatory and governance frameworks to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective urban planning. The fifth priority is promoting local identities by celebrating local cultures, heritage, and traditions.

Key Outcomes

The U20 meeting resulted in a set of recommendations for the G20 leaders to address the urbanization challenges. The recommendations include:

• Encouraging collaboration among city governments to share best practices, resources, and knowledge to address urban challenges.
• Urging G20 countries to recognize the role of cities in achieving sustainable development goals.
• Ensuring adequate funding and resources for cities to implement sustainable urban projects.
• Encouraging the private sector to invest in sustainable urban projects.
• Promoting transparency and accountability in urban governance.