#EDD21 - HIGH-LEVEL PANEL: From rapid urbanisation to the green shift

Are cities ready to walk the talk?

With a rapidly growing urban population, lower-income and middle-lower income countries requires key basic infrastructure including housing, transportation, energy systems, as well as social services. Large part of this infrastructure remains to be built, opening an opportunity to engage a debate on how this expansion will be designed, implemented and financed. Decisions taken in cities today will largely define the scope for moving towards more sustainable solutions.

Less-urbanized countries have an opportunity to leapfrog to urban infrastructure that is fit for a greener world. How can the strong ambition of sustainable urbanization be shared with local and national leaders from the global South?

Speakers:

- Yvonne AKI-SAWYERR, Mayor of Freetown, Government of Sierra Leone
- Grete FAREMO, Executive Director United Nations Office for Project Services
- Maimunah MOHD SHARIF, Executive Director UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme)
- Ricardo RIO, Mayor of Braga, Portugal
- Syamphone SENGCHANDALA , Director General, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Laos
- Paa Kwesi ABAKAH BONNEY, EDD Young Leader Ghana

Moderator: Charles LANDRY, Author and international advisor on the future of cities

Panel organised by @unhabitatglobal