Thriving cities, prosperous countries: From Agenda to Implementation

February 11, 2018, 1pm – 8:45pm, Salon One at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, 12 Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Over a year ago, 167 countries signed an unprecedented agreement setting a path towards achieving cities that are better for people, the planet and the economy. The question now is how to reach the goals outlined in the New Urban Agenda. While national governments have made commitments to end poverty, reduce inequality and tackle climate change, many of the actions needed are the responsibility of local authorities. These include spatial planning, provision of core infrastructure (housing, water supply, sanitation, roads), and basic services (healthcare, waste collection, emergency services and policing). Cities are, in a word, essential to sustainable development.
But there is strong evidence that local governments cannot succeed without concerted, coordinated and enabling national action. Central governments determine the extent to which power and resources are devolved, and national policies and regulations play a major role in shaping urban form and function. Only a third of countries have national policies to shape urban growth, and some national policies in sectors like housing and energy sometimes work at cross purposes to local efforts to build more sustainable, thriving cities.
The event will explore critical areas where national and local governments must work together more effectively to deliver cities for all. We will feature expert presentations and diverse panels including national and city decision makers, with representatives from the private sector and civil society. With high level opening and concluding panels, the event will cover key topics in the New Urban Agenda that are important to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Sessions will focus on urban land use and housing, infrastructure, and finance—supported by research from the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and the Coalition for Urban Transitions.

1:00-1:15 PM Welcome: Ani Dasgupta, Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
1:15-2:15 PM OPENING SESSION: Deadline 2020
Moderator: Seth Shultz, Director of Science & Innovation, C40 Cities Climate Leadership
Group
Session Topics: Who has the power to act? Conversations about global challenges emphasize the importance of cities, but local governments often do not have the assets, functions and authorities to act alone. This moderated debate will bring together leaders from national and city governments to explore how they can use their respective powers to implement the New Urban Agenda, SDGs and Paris Agreement.

Panelist:
Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Mayor of Accra, Ghana
Alessandra d'Avila, Director PAC/UAP at the Ministry of Cities of Brazil
Zandile Gumede, Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Durban, South Africa
Idris Haron, Chief Minister of Melaka, Malaysia (TBC)
Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of State with Independent Charge, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India

2:15-3:15 PM SESSION 1: How to Shape Urban Land Use and Provide Housing for All
Moderator: Robin King, Director of Knowlegde Capture and Collaboration, WRI

Session Topics: Compact urban growth and affordable, well-located housing can lead to economic benefits for urban residents and reduce the costs of infrastructure for city authorities. However, increasing urban density also creates risks, particularly around the costs of land and housing. This session will address the challenging question of how todeliver affordable housing and compact urban growth through joint national and local action.

Panelist:
Norliza Hashim, Managing Director, AJM Planning and Urban Design Group Sdn Bhd
Ranjeev Ranjan Mishra, Additional Secretary, Govt. of India, Ministry of Housing and Development
Rose Molokoane, Coordinator of the South African Federation of the Urban Poor (FEDUP);
Abel Schumann, Economist, OECD
Rafael Tuts, Director of Programme Division, UN-Habitat
Jorge Wolpert, Director, CONAVI (TBC)

3:15-3:35PM Break

3:35-4:35 PM SESSION 2: How to Deliver Urban Infrastructure and Core Services for All
Moderator: Anjali Mahendra, Acting Director of Research, Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Session Topics: Cities are struggling to address deficits in service delivery and keep pace with rapid population growth amid constrained resources. Nearly a billion people live in informal settlements without access to decent housing, clean drinking water or safe sanitation; millions more lack access to reliable and low-carbon transport, electricity and waste management. This session will look at new technologies, policies a delivery models that are enabling governments to better meet the needs of urban residents.

Panelists:
Victoria Beard, Fellow, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Diego Canales, Transport Associate, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Sarah Colenbrander, Senior researcher, Human Settlements Group, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
Diego Fernandez, Secretary of Social and Urban Integration, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sameh Naguib Wahba, Global Director for Urban and Territorial Development, Disaster Risk Management, World BankJointly hosted by WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, the Coalition for Urban Transitions, and the C40 Climate Leadership Group.

4:35-5:35 PM
SESSION 3: How to Mobilize Urban Finance to Pay for it All
Moderator: Nick Godfrey, Director of the Coalition for Urban Transitions
Session Topics: The gap in infrastructure investment in the global south is estimated to be between $1.2 trillion and $2.3 trillion a year. Mobilizing resources at this scale requires much more effective collaboration between national and local governments. This session will explore how both sides can build financial capabilities to fund implementation of the New Urban Agenda, SDGs and Paris Agreement.

Panelists:
Dan Dowling, Director, Cities & Urbanisation in Advisory, PWC
Andrea Fernandez, Director of Governance and Global Partnerships, C40
Kyung-Hwan Kim, Former Vice Minister in the national Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) in South Korea (TBC)
Naoko Ishii, CFO, Global Environment Facility- World Bank Group
Jessica Seddon, Urban Development Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

5:35-5:45 PM Break

5:45-6:30 PM CONCLUDING SESSION | The Way Forward
Moderator: Ani Dasgupta

Session Topics: Strong partnerships between national and local governments are an essential precondition to achieving the global goals. This session will highlight key insights and recommendations to carry forward into the next two days of the World Urban Forum.

Panelists:
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UNu2011Habitat Executive Director (TBC)
Joan Clos, Former UN-Habitat director (TBC)
Rubbina Karruna, Cities Advisor, UK Department for International Development (DFID)
Jesper Nygård, CEO, Reldania
Mauricio Rodas, Mayor of Quito

5:45- 6:30PM Announcement of Ross Prize for Cities
Ani Dasgupta

6:45-8:45 PM Reception
Please join us for a reception and light dinner taking place on the 38th floor.