Wednesday 3 November 2021, 12.30-3.00pm (GMT)
Cities are at the crossroads of the most pressing global challenges. They are responsible for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions; they are the contested arenas where social, economic and racial inequalities are most stark; they were the early epicentres of contagion during the pandemic. At the same time, they offer the most hope for transformation, with cities leading the way in promoting innovation and experimentation, creating alternative responses to these challenges.
This event will focus on the complexities and opportunities involved in generating governance, policy and design responses at the city level around the core themes of health, justice and the environment. Speakers include: António Guterres, Secretary General, United Nations; Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director, UN-Habitat; Claudia Sheinbaum, Mayor of Mexico City; Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona; Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown; Claudia López, Mayor of Bogotá; Mariana Mazzucato, Director, IIPP, UCL; Richard Sennett, Visiting Professor of Urban Studies, MIT, Boston; Soledad Nuñez, Alma Cívica, Paraguay and Ricky Burdett, Director, LSE Cities.
The event marks the launch of the Council on Urban Initiatives, a new collaboration between UN-Habitat, the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London and LSE Cities at the London School of Economics.
Taking place at the British Academy, London, in front of an invited audience, this hybrid event will be accessible via Zoom and streamed live on YouTube.
Event Details
12:30-12:40 Welcome & Introduction
Introduction to the Council on Urban Initiatives, co-chairs, Mariana Mazzucato, Director, IIPP, UCL and Ricky Burdett, Director, LSE Cities (in-person)
Julia Black, the British Academy (in-person)
12:40-12:45 Advancing a carbon-neutral, resilient recovery for cities and nations
António Guterres, UN Secretary General, pre-recorded video
12.45-13.20 Response to Secretary General Guterres on the crossroads ahead
Richard Sennett, Visiting Professor of Urban Studies, MIT; Mariana Mazzucato, Director, IIPP, UCL; Ricky Burdett, Director, LSE Cities; and Soledad Nuñez, Mendez, Founder, Alma Cívica, Paraguay in discussion. Moderated by Lesley Lokko, Founding Director, Africa Futures Institute, Accra (in-person)
13:20-14:35 Roundtable discussion
Claudia López, Mayor of Bogotá (the JUST City), Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown (the HEALTHY City), Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona (the INTEGRATED City), Claudia Sheinbaum, Mayor of Mexico City (the GREEN City) (all virtual) in discussion. Moderated by Leilani Farha, Global Director, The Shift, Ottawa and former UN Rapporteur on Housing (in-person)
14:35-14:50 Public Dialogue
Q&A with live in-person audience, chaired by Ricky Burdett, Director, LSE Cities (in-person)
14:50-14:55 UN-Habitat and the Council on Urban Initiatives
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director, UN-Habitat (in-person)
14:55-15:00 Closing remarks
Mariana Mazzucato, Director, IIPP, UCL (in-person)
Council on Urban Initiatives
The event marks the launch of the Council on Urban Initiatives, a new collaboration between UN-Habitat, the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London and LSE Cities at the London School of Economics.
Constituted initially by an international group of eighteen pioneering mayors, practitioners, activists and academics, the Council has been formed in response to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ call to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an ‘opportunity to reflect and reset how we live, interact, and rebuild our cities’. The Council’s mission is to centre the urban in global debates, influence agendas at the highest levels of the UN and international community, and to promote experimentation to overcome barriers to innovation and progressive policymaking at the city level.
Building on the experience of urban and national leaders on the Council - representing Barcelona, Bogotá, Mexico City, New Orleans, Gaziantep, Freetown, Singapore and Paraguay – and unique perspectives on the political economy, urban design, social inclusion and housing in global cities, the Council will focus on three interconnected themes of health, social justice and climate change.