Urban Planning Agencies and the UN's Sustainable Development Guidelines

A new report from France shows how to deploy urban planning agencies in the pursuit of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by 193 countries in 193 nations in 2015.

1 minute read

June 8, 2017, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


United Nations

MISHELLA / Shutterstock

David Hatch shares news of the "Guide to Create and Urban Planning Agency" [pdf], designed to assist in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework that went into effect last year after adoption by the United Nations in 2015. The guide is the work of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Network of Urban Planning Agencies (FNAU).

"A central theme is that urban planning bodies are tools that emphasize shared knowledge and multi-stakeholder input," according to Hatch. "They are well-equipped to tackle a wide range of issues, including climate change, the transition to renewable energy, innovative forms of governance and inclusive development models."

Hatch samples some of the case studies described in the report, with examples from around the world in places as varied as South Korea, Egypt, Brazil, India, France, and South Africa. 

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