SUSTAINABLE CITIES SUMMIT ’22 CO-HOSTED BY ICLEI AND KADIKÖY MUNICIPALITY

International Sustainable Cities Summit, which was organized with the call of Şerdil Dara Odabaşı, Mayor of Kadıköy, Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and Tunç Soyer, Mayor of Izmir, was held as a hybrid meeting at Kozyatağı Cultural Center on 18 March 2022. 

In four panels entitled “Green City Finance Plan”, “Presidency Session”, “Culture and Nature” and “Localization of Global and European Agendas”, the participants discussed what cities can do for the future of the world, relations with international fund organizations, green city investments, circular culture, circular life, and VLR processes.

Besides the participants from Istanbul, Adana, and Izmir Metropolitan Municipalities, Wolfgang Teubner, Regional Director Europe of ICLEI, Yunus Arıkan, Global Advocacy Director of ICLEI World Secretariat, and Peter Kurz, Mayor of Mannheim, attended the summit and shared their experiences and good practices.

With the “Kadıköy Declaration 2022” signed at the end of the summit, it was emphasized that local governments play an important role in democracy, peace, social justice, health, welfare, and sustainability. In the declaration highlighting the participation of Turkish cities in European and global sustainability goals and initiatives, municipalities were invited to cooperate with ICLEI.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 CONDOLENCE: TERROR ATTACK | ISTANBUL

United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA) strongly condemns the terrorist attack resulting in civilian casualties on November 13th in Istanbul, which also hosts the Organization's Secretariat. UCLG-MEWA stays firmly against any terroristic attempt that threatens or disrupts the region's peace, security, and stability. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wish for a speedy recovery for those injured. In this regard, we express our sincere gratitude to our well-wishers and friends in the local governments for their condolence messages.

 UCLG-MEWA TRAINING ON URBAN RESILIENCE, NOVEMBER 1-2

“Training on Urban Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction for Arab Cities” organized by UCLG-MEWA, UCLG Learning, UNDRR, and ATO will take place on 1-2 November in Dibba Al Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

 UCLG-MEWA EXECUTIVE BUREAU TO CONVENE IN NOVEMBER

The Executive Bureau Meeting of the United Cities and Local Governments, Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA) will be held on 23-24 November 2022, hosted by Gebze Municipality at Bilişim Vadisi (Technology Development Zone).

 6TH TEHRAN GOLDEN ADOBE AWARD HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

The 6th Tehran Golden Adobe Award, organized by Tehran Municipality in cooperation with United Nations Human Settlement Program (UNHABITAT), will be held in Tehran on 31 October-1 November. The Award will focus on “People-Oriented Development, Social Dynamism and Cultural Inclusion in City.” The project entries can be submitted to the website until 7 October. .

 NEW ISSUE OF MEWA AGORA: DECENTRALIZED COOPERATION

The second issue of the UCLG-MEWA quarterly magazine MEWA Agora is out. The issue with the main focus on Decentralized Cooperation includes the Feature on cities’ development cooperation in the MEWA Region, the Opinion piece by Sogen Moodley from the Durban University of Technology, the Interview with Tayseer Abu Sneineh, the new president of UCLG-MEWA, and "Wastewater and Municipal Water Systems Management" good practice on decentralized cooperation.

 SUMMER SCHOOL ON URBAN MANAGEMENT IN IRAN

Tehran Municipality’s initiative Asian Mayors Forum, cooperating with Allameh Tabataba’i University from Iran, will be organizing its first international Summer School on Urban Management.

 UCLG-MEWA WILL BE IN GIRNE WITH GENDER EQUALITY AGENDA

UCLG-MEWA Committee on Gender Equality will organize its first program with the new committee presidency after UCLG-MEWA Congress’22. The program will be held on 5 August 2022, in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) under the auspices of the Municipality of Girne

 CALL FOR ACTION: EARTHQUAKE IN AFGHANISTAN

UCLG-MEWA expresses grave concern and sympathies towards the families of the victims of the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan that hit the country's Paktika Province on June 21 and resulted in more than a thousand deaths and many more injuries.

 Iran Smart City Expo 2022

You are all invited to the 3rd Iran Smart City Expo & Conference, which will take place between July 3-5, 2022. The program, hosted by the help of the Ministry of Interior of Iran, aims to develop participants’ networks and provides capacity building opportunities on “Smart City Policies/Practices”.

 Tehran Twin Cities Festival

Tehran Municipality invites its Twin Cities to participate in the 1st Festival and Exhibition of Sister and Twin Cities of Tehran between 5-9 July 2022, to share experiences and display their capabilities and opportunities for joint projects and bilateral or multilateral cooperation.

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