Mar 20, 2016
By
Naoko Ishii

First Meeting of the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC)

  • Distinguished participants, colleagues, friends 
  • I am delighted to be here today for the launch of the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities.
  • This is an exciting moment for everyone working on urban issues, and I want to congratulate all the cities, agencies and other partners in getting to where we are today.
  • But no one here is happier than me today.
  • Since I took the office of the GEF as CEO, I have been hoping that the GEF can do more business with cities, for two reasons.
  • First, it was increasingly clear that cities are on the front line in the battle against climate change and are major forces to achieve sustainable development. Your role is critical.
  • Second, I am deeply impressed with the genuine willingness among cities to learn from each other and their aspiration for results. To me this is very attractive place to invest as we can see the potential of scaling up of impacts.
  • 2015 was a great year for anybody working for cities.
  • The SDGs adopted in September has cities as a separate goal 11. Hundreds of mayors gathered at Paris City Hall during COP21 to make their commitment clear to the world. I had the honor to be there and witness this commitment first hand.
  • The Sustainable Cities IAP program was born from that commitment on my side to support mayors in their endeavor of SDG and climate change.
  • The program aims at promoting an integrated approach to sustainable urban planning. Or moving out of single sector investment towards holistic integrated planning, help build compact, connected, and coordinated cities.
  • Through this program, we are seeking answers to a question of what are common metrics and tools for integrated urban planning.
  • The program is a two story house.
    • The first story (floor) is to help 23 cities promote integrated approach through actual investment of their priority.
    • The second story (floor) is to create global platform for knowledge sharing among cities, within 23 but also with outside 23, so that 23 cities can tap the state of the art thinking /methods of integrated urban planning but also their experiences are shared globally through networks of Mayors and city experts.
  • The second story of knowledge sharing platform is a unique feature of the program with huge potential of scaling up of transformation. The location of this event could not be more appropriate. Singapore has four decades of experience of integrated sustainable urban planning and implementation. It has been inspiration for other cities.
  • I want to thank our hosts, the government of Singapore, and the World Bank Urban Center for giving us this wonderful opportunity to come together.
  • I look very much forward to working with all of you on this exciting agenda in the months and years ahead!
  • Thank you.
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