Urban 20 leaders are outlining their vision for worldwide efforts to “recover together, recover stronger” from the pandemic and economic strife.
In the Urban 20 Summit communiqué, mayors and governors call for more investment in health systems and housing as a cornerstone to a global, inclusive and equitable recovery that boosts social protection and cohesion.
U20 cities urge G20 leaders and others to support equitable access to the job market and a renewable energy transition that puts equal access to sustainable mobility at its centre.
Mayors and governors representing some of the world’s largest economies today appealed to the Group of 20 to take concrete actions to accelerate a sustainable economic and social recovery for all by:
- Investing in health and housing as a cornerstone to an economic and social recovery for all,
- Fostering a sustainable energy transition and equal access to sustainable mobility, and
- Providing education and training on the future of work to facilitate equitable access to the job market.
These actions will help to address the climate crisis, foster social cohesion and address equality, the mayors and government declared in a communiqué signed by representatives from 44 cities. The city leaders outlined their vision to work collaboratively with G20 leaders at the Urban 20 Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.
At the event, under the leadership of 2022 U20 co-chairs Jakarta and West Java, U20 mayors and governors exchanged best practices and discussed solutions to achieve a sustainable economic and social recovery for all. The gathering, held in hybrid format, brought together urban leaders from all continents with mayors and officials of 96 cities joining in-person and mayors of 31 cities joining virtually. The high-level meeting concluded with the signed U20 communiqué, to be presented to current G20 President Joko Widodo of Indonesia.
Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan said: “City Leaders have similar view and reach a consensus that cities play a tremendous role in development. Cities are facing numerous challenges, however, they are the centre of innovations and economic engine at national level. Therefore, the nexus of economy, ecology, and social equality needs to be underlying principle in all development sectors. These what we emphasise in the U20 Cycle 2022 Communique, in particular raising the topic of Post-Pandemic Cities.”
C40 Cities Executive Director Mark Watts said: “This Urban 20 Summit has made clear: Mayors and governors around the world are stepping up as climate leaders. They are driving environmental and socio-economic progress during the pandemic while addressing acute energy and cost-of-living crises. The context in which Urban 20 cities met this year could not have been more challenging, and their call for global action could not be clearer. I applaud, in particular, the call for more direct investment in a sustainable energy and mobility transition that protects people from rising prices and rapidly reduces emissions.”
UCLG Secretary General Emilia Saiz said: Protecting the planet is intertwined with caring for people of this generation but also of future ones. A mentality change needs to happen at all levels in the way we understand progress, quality of life and the role that we all have in society. These changes need to be grounded in realities at the local level in local public service provision and community building. The inputs of cities to G20 are of paramount importance and Urban 20 needs to remain a bastion of international solidarity and peace building.
In the communiqué, mayors and governors propose specific actions to promote affordable housing, boost a renewable energy-based transition that promotes equal access to sustainable mobility, invest in mental health programmes and pandemic resilience, and ensure equitable access to the job market by investing in education and long-life training on the future of work.
U20 mayors and governors call on G20 leaders to remain focused on delivering, collaboratively, on the Paris Agreement, New Urban Agenda and 2030 Agenda while supporting efforts to “localise” the Global Goals.
U20 leaders also express their unity in calling for the swift cessation of the war in Ukraine, and condemn all violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights.
In light of the G20 meeting in Bali, set to be held on 15-16 November, U20 cities appeal to G20 heads of state and government to promote world peace and global development and to work with cities towards a mutually desirable post-pandemic future that is more equitable, more sustainable and more resilient and benefits all, irrespective of background, gender or socio-economic circumstance.
For more information:
Visit the Urban 20 website.
Read the 2022 Urban 20 Communiqué here.
Read the U20 Press Release here.