World Urban Forum

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization.

The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since. Representatives of national, regional and local governments, academics, business people, community leaders, urban planners and civil society representatives will be among the thousands of people are expected to attend WUF11 which is co-organized by Poland’s Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, the Municipal Office of Katowice.

The theme of WUF11, Transforming our Cities for a Better Urban Future, will provide greater insights and clarity on the future of cities based on existing trends, challenges and opportunities, as well as suggest ways cities can be better prepared to address future pandemics and a wide range of other shocks. It will take place on 26-30 June 2022.

More information: https://wuf.unhabitat.org/

How city leaders and youth are making climate neutrality a reality in their territories

27 June 2022, 16:00 – 17:30

Draft agenda

Introduction by Moderator (5’) – Katarzyna Balucka, DG CLIMA

Sli.do poll – does your city have any type of structured cooperation with its youth groups? (i.e. youth council, …) (3’)

Presentations (25’)

-Emily Clancy, Deputy Mayor, City of Bologna

-Ville Taajamaa, Sustainable Development Goals Project Manager, City of Espoo

-Kasia Smetek, President of the Youth Climate Council in Poland & Young Climate Pact Ambassador

-TBC: Committee of the Regions Young Elected Politicians (YEP)

Discussion (15’)

•Pre-prepared questions + questions from participants and questions received from audience

Focus on challenges and success factors, how to move forward, what can others learn, what are the next plans

•Sli.do poll – could you replicate the examples in your city? (3’)

Breakouts (30’)

Participants in the room will be gathering around thematic circles, listen to a short pitch of a cooperation example or joint pledge with cities and youth, and have the opportunity to ask questions and reflect upon whether the example can be replicated in their contexts. We will use printed handouts to guide the participants reflections around 4 criteria to assess the replicability of the example in their cities/territories: possible challenges, possible solutions, stakeholders to be involved, and what would the first steps be.

Each breakout circle will be hosted by one project/initiative.

•Youth Council of the Centre Val de Loire Region, the Regional Climate COP initiative (representative TBC)

•Turku’s Youth Council (social media campaign and sub-granting youth organisations), Chair of the Turku’s Youth Council

•Sfantu Georghe, Romania, participatory budget, Youth Bureau in 2021, Youth Parliament to be launched in 2022, Deputy Mayor Mrs. Vargha Fruzsina (TBC)

•Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania Participatory budget for young people after 18yo and projects in schools for separate waste collection. Deputy Mayor, Mr. Andrei GHEORGHIU

•Spilamberto municipality, Italy, citizen participation and a young administration, Mayor Umberto Costantini

•Formigine, Italy, youth for climate initiatives, Council member Giulia Bosi

•Castelnuovo Rangone, Italy, Councillor Lauro Fontanesi, local energy communities and sustainable mobility (TBC)

Quick wrap up from each circle moderator and closing remarks by DG CLIMA (10’)

*CoMO colleague to collect the handouts and use them for feedback after the event*