Roundup: World leaders call for greater commitment towards achieving sustainable urban development

Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-29 21:39:32|Editor: xuxin
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by Ronald Njoroge and Peter Mutai

NAIROBI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- World leaders meeting at the ongoing first UN-Habitat Assembly have called for greater global commitment towards achieving sustainable urban development.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif said that cities drive national economic and social development as they create employment opportunities for populations.

Sharif told more than 3,000 delegates attending the assembly that cities are capable of contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs).

"We are keen at generating and using innovative knowledge in making lives of people who live in cities better," she added.

Martha Delgado, president of first UN-Habitat Assembly, observed that innovations in housing require big data to have a positive impact.

She called on delegates to think local in helping achieve the SDGs agenda, adding that the UN agency will continue to support countries in accelerating new development agenda on housing.

"Your decisions are important as they can help change situations such as climate change and poverty for the better," she noted.

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta called on all partners and nations to recognize the importance of the New Urban Agenda.

"We must recognize that we can't do this alone. We need each other to work together to achieve the noble goals we set under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Kenyatta said during the High level Interactive Strategic Dialogue that is part of the UN-Habitat Assembly.

Yemen's Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik said that currently towns and cities in his country are facing conflict from armed groups.

Abdulmalik said that the conflict which has created about 3 million internally displaced persons has created more challenges for its cities.

He observed that urban centers around his country have all updated their policies to promote the development of sustainable cities.

Abdulmalik said that his country supports an urbanization process that does not destroy the environment.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir also called on world leaders to make contributions to make UN-Habitat formulate sustainable strategies that will transform cities and human settlements.

Kiir said that the UN agency is currently unable to meet its planned strategic plan due to lack of funding.

"We are willing to work closely with the UN agency as this will also help us make strides in our housing needs," he said.

Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji, said that for development to be realized there is need to incorporate Public Private Partnership (PPP) and the new financial mechanism.

"The problem associated with the increasing informal settlements and poor housing require a joint intervention," said the prime minister, who also encouraged the private sector and civil society to take lead in setting development standards.

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