A marathon negotiation forged the compromises necessary for the New Urban Agenda to be adopted next month at the Habitat III summit in Quito, Ecuador.
"After 38 hours of non-stop negotiations, diplomats Saturday night delivered an agreement for a new global strategy on sustainable urbanization, called the New Urban Agenda," reports Greg Scruggs.
"With the newfound consensus — which had been elusive, coming only after emergency talks were extended for an additional day — the document is likely to be adopted next month at the Habitat III summit in Quito, Ecuador."
According to Scruggs, two issues had to be overcome to reach the breakthrough consensus. First: "the adoption of a new paragraph in the New Urban Agenda’s contentious 'follow-up and review' section." The new paragraph clears up controversy over the role of UN-Habitat, the U.N.'s lead agency on urbanization, by recommending "an evidence-based and independent assessment of UN-Habitat," according to the agreement. "The result of the assessment will be a report containing recommendations to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and oversight of UN-Habitat…"
Scruggs also reports details of the second breakthrough, related to "a host of complex but only marginally related points of controversy — common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), the right to development, official development assistance (ODA), unilateral economic sanctions and territories under foreign occupation."
Read the full story: Final burst of talks results in consensus on draft New Urban Agenda
New Toolkit for Walkability Presented at the World Urban Forum
At the ninth session of the World Urban Forum held earlier in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy introduced their new "Pedestrian First" toolkit to measure and promote walkability in urban environments.
United Nations Taking First Steps Toward the New Urban Agenda
Some of the big work left undone by the Habitat III summit in finalizing the New Urban Agenda in December is now moving forward. The future of the New Urban Agenda and UN-Habitat can now start to take shape.
A More Disorderly Urban Form Praised in UN's Quito Papers
A UN conference in Quito Ecuador in October 2016 looked at housing the world’s growing urban population. The Conference resulted in a document and film advocating a more organic and disorderly urban form.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
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Dallas moves to overhaul its zoning code
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FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
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