News in 2016

Towards a new Urban Agenda – IFHP Summit 2016

2 June 2016, Copenhagen, Denmark

The beautiful garden of IFHP and Realdania in the middle of Copenhagen

IFHP President Flemming Borreskov explaining the background of Habitat III

FIG was invited to the International Federation of Housing and Planning IFHP’s Council Summit 2016 on 2 June 2016. FIG and IFHP have a Memorandum of Understanding. IFHP is a global network of people passionate about making better cities addressing urban challenges and opportunities, and providing new perspectives and ideas for the cities of tomorrow.

Around 40 members of IFHP had found their way to a very warm Copenhagen, and attended the Summit. IFHP has its office and meeting facilities in the middle of old Copenhagen at Realdania, a member-based philanthropic organization that supports projects in the built environment: cities, buildings, and built heritage.

High on the agenda for the summit was preparatory work for Habitat III that will take place in October 2016. IFHP President Flemming Borreskov gave an introduction to Habitat III. The New Urban Agenda will be adopted in Quito. In the original 8 millenium goals there was no word about cities, however among the new 2030 goals that include 17 goals, goad number 11 is about cities, and how to develop sustainable and inclusive cities for all.

A number of key messages to IFHP materialized during the days:

• There is a divide between formal and informal political and economic systems that directly effects the ability of cities to develop in a sustainable manner.
• there is a need to acknowledge the need for transparency and trust. We need to deal with corruption.
  
• Cities need to understand more than what citizens want. Most citizens look for a reasonable job and affordable home. What is important to the success of the individual is far from what cities need to do to develop successful communities.
• We have to recognize that the long term plans can only be achieved through adaptive and flexible approaches and solutions that react to the increasing number of global shocks and risks.
• Cities have to be constantly redefined. The New Urban Agenda does not stop at the municipal boarder.

Louise Friis-Hansen
FIG Director

6 July 2016

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