United Nations Conference Housing and Sustainable Urban De-velopment （Habitat III）

By Dr. Joan Clos, Secretary-General of Habitat III

Quito, 17 October 2016 2

Excellences, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

I am very pleased to see the advent of the New Urban Agenda that we have successfully brought to life and to the commitments that we are about to make.

In line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement on climate change, the New Urban Agenda envisages cities and human settlements where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and have equal opportunities to participate in.

The New Urban Agenda advocates for open and pluralistic societies, where the needs of all inhabitants are met, including those in vulnerable situations.

The New Urban Agenda is a vision for a better and greener urban future where everybody has access to the benefits of urbanization - A vision where all persons are able to enjoy equal rights and fundamental freedoms, including gender equality, guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and grounded in the Universal Human Rights.

Integrated urban planning is in the core of the New Urban Agenda. We need to design our cities and territories in an innovative way with a long-term vision of a sound green economy, protection of cultures and inclusive cities for 6

all: only in this way we will we be able to build sustainable and safe societies.

There is an urgent need to rethink our mobility systems and change the physical shapes of our cities and mixed land use, prevent urban sprawl and avoid spatial and socio-economic segregation and gentrification.

The New Urban Agenda urges us to value public spaces, protect the environment and food provision and balance market-led spatial development with social and cultural values and sustainable local economic development. Everybody should have access to infrastructure, basic services, employment opportunities, and adequate housing.

Excellences, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen

I am inspired to see the visionary ideas of the New Urban Agenda - Together we have the knowledge to change our cities for the better.

This will require strong coordination among different planning scales, the policies that guide urbanization and among sectors.

I would like to appeal to governments, international and regional organizations and bodies, including UN agencies, international and multilateral finan-cial institutions, regional development banks, the private sector, and other stakeholders, to work together, minimize duplication of efforts and enhance coordination in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.

The New Urban Agenda envisages land and housing policy as a guide for the spatial development of our cities which should ensure inclusiveness, afford-ability and resiliency to disasters and climate change effects.

This vision that we share will come to be realised through a solid and consistent financing plan. 7

Guided by the New Urban Agenda, I would like to call for integrated financing frameworks that are embedded into coherent policy frameworks and fiscal decentralization processes.

The good news is that urbanization generates value and wealth, and will provide the value required by itself, but to achieve that objective a value sharing policy is absolutely needed. Without it there is no way that sound urbanization can be properly financed.

Excellences, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen

Most of all, we need commitment. Last year was historic in terms of commitments to improve the living conditions of our common world. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted, including the Sustainable Development Goals. Among the SDGs especially SDG 11 recognized the crucial role of cities and urbanization as an endogenous source for develop-ment.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development; the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, among others, paved the way for the New Urban Agenda.

We need commitment to make a change - we need to face the real Gordian Knot of urbanization. Urban land legislation at the service of the common interest; effective legislation on value sharing; a public private partnership where every part plays by the same rules.

Urbanization well done is a very creative aspect of the human society and a very efficient instrument of development. But it does not come without a very 8

committed and participatory process, with transparency, public and private accountability and a radical stance against corruption.

Over the three past years I have seen very important contributions by the United Nations system, local governments, and other stakeholders at the three preparatory committees of the Habitat III process.

Over 40 UN agencies, funds and programmes organised under the UN Task Team for Habitat III, the GAP constituting 16 Partner Constituent Groups and over 1100 unique organisations with over 58000 networks were involved in the preparations of the New Urban Agenda.

I would like to commend the General Assembly of Partners for Habitat III.

I am delighted to announce that we were able to pull together throughout the entire Preparatory process for this conference over 36,000 participants from 142 countries. We held 7 thematic meetings across all regions, 4 regional meetings, over 35 urban breakfasts, over 22 Urban Journalism academies, and over 22 National Urban Forums in all regions.

These preparatory sessions brought forth 11 regional and thematic Declarations and 10 Policy Unit recommendations, and over 101 National Reports were issued by the National Habitat III committees.

These extremely fruitful outcomes account for the distinct interest and myriad of partners towards the future of cities and the New Urban Agenda.

This process has represented an extremely high level of participation in the history of the United Nations. For the first time local authorities participated were given the opportunity to participate formally in consultations in an inter-governmental process.

I would like to commend the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments for their leadership and contribution to the process.

This clearly shows me that together we are stronger and we have been able to create an immense wealth of knowledge of urbanization and an inspiring roadmap for its future direction.

This participation and political commitment needs also to go into actions. I envisage to see that the New Urban Agenda becomes a key instrument for national, sub-national, and local governments and all relevant stakeholders to achieve sustainable urban development.

I am urging all of you today, to come together, to bring your various skills and knowledge from all fields of expertise and to work together to implement this New Urban Agenda in your own countries at all levels of governance. Let the Habitat III legacy be one that we are proud of, and which our children and grandchildren can enjoy safely and happily.

The Quito Conference has provided a great opportunity for all of us to start building our partnerships through the Quito Implementation Plan, which al-ready can count 36 voluntary commitments towards implementing the New Urban Agenda. This gives an excellent kick start for the major tasks ahead us.

Habitat III is a critical milestone in shaping the vision for the future development of cities and human settlements. Indeed, solutions for the complex challenges of urbanization can only be found by bringing together Member States, multilateral organizations, local governments, private sector and civil society. I thank you all dearly for your contributions and support throughout the Habitat III process and the task force entrusted with us by our respective nations.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Co-Chairs of the Preparatory Committee, María de los ñngeles Duarte, Minister of Housing and Urban Development of Ecuador, Madame Maryse Gautier from France and 10

Mr. Jaime Silva from Chile for their steady leadership and dedication throughout the preparatory process towards the New Urban Agenda. I would also like to thank the remaining members of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for their tireless efforts and contributions to the Habitat III process for the last three years.