UN Egypt Resident Coordinator: World Cities Day Celebrations Highlight Egypt’s Commitment to Sustainable Urban Development

Alexandria (31 October 2024) – The UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, participated in the Global Observance of World Cities Day, hosted at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina by the Egyptian government, represented by the Ministry of Local Development and UN-Habiat.

The celebration, attended by Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, and Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Ashraf Sobhy, was held just days ahead of the Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12). Convened by UN-Habitat, WUF12 will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from November 4 to 8, 2024, marking the forum’s return to Africa after more than 20 years after its inaugural session in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2002.

In her remarks, Ms. Panova expressed her happiness to see Egypt once again at the center of the World Cities Day global celebration, following Luxor's success in 2021, noting it as another opportunity to showcase Egypt’s dedication to sustainable urban development.

The Resident Coordinator emphasized the significance of hosting the event in Alexandria, a coastal city that stands at the forefront of the climate change battle, facing sea-level rise and extreme weather events. She commended Alexandria and its young people for finding sustainable solutions to preserve its unique heritage and build a resilient future.

Ms. Panova highlighted that the fight for sustainable development will be won or lost in cities, given that over half of the global population currently lives in urban areas, a figure – she said- expected to rise to two-thirds by 2050, noting that cities are responsible for around 70% of global emissions, and urban dimensions are integral to two-thirds of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The "Pact for the Future," endorsed by world leaders at the September Summit of the Future in New York, is a renewed call to action, committing to sustainable development, equality, and peace, including making cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, she added. 

The UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt also affirmed that The UN in Egypt is a proud partner in this effort. We have made sustainable and balanced urban development a priority in our Cooperation Framework with the Government of Egypt, the cornerstone of our joint efforts to accelerate the SDGs. We have also put youth (60% of Egypt’s population) at the center of all our work.”

Ms. Panova commended the Egyptian government for its continued partnership with the UN system in implementing the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda.

This year’s World Cities Day celebration centers on youth leadership for climate action and local urban sustainability, under the theme “Youth Climate Changemakers: Catalyzing Local Action for Urban Sustainability”. Panova highlighted that youth hold solutions to climate challenges as they are sources of climate action today, and will be our leaders tomorrow. "Today on World Cities Day, we recognize both the need for sustainable urbanization and the important role that young people are playing in shaping a brighter future for our cities and our planet,” she said. 

In closing, Ms. Panova conveyed UN Secretary-General António Guterres' call on World Cities Day, to celebrate the power of youth to build green, resilient and inclusive cities that meet the needs and aspirations of future generations.

The diverse celebration featured Shanghai Awards Winners announcement and presentation by the Minister of Local Development and the Executive Director of UN-Habitat to five cities worldwide: Agadir (Morocco), Thiruvananthapuram (India), Doha (Qatar), Iztapalapa (Mexico), and Melbourne (Australia). Additionally, Alexandria Governor Major General Ahmed Khaled received an honorary certificate recognizing the historic city of Alexandria. The Shanghai Award, presented by UN-Habitat and the Shanghai Municipality, aims to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.

 The event also included a public-private dialogue on sustainable investment for climate resilience. The dialogue explored how private investments drive climate adaptation and public-private partnerships in urban development.

Furthermore, a high-level ministerial panel saw a global discussion on how cities can combat climate change and build a resilient future.