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Deadline
10 Jun 2012
The registration is closed.

UNITAR Rio Preparation Forum: Building Sustainable Cities

Type
Side Event
Location
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date
-
To be confirmed
Duration
1 Days
Programme Area
Environmental Governance and Law
Website
http://www.unitar.org/ny
Price
$0.00
Event Focal Point Email
nyo@unitar.org
Contact Number
212-963-9196
Partnership
IBM
Registration
By application & selection
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-Face
Language(s)
English
Data Protection and Privacy
The personal data of participants applying for, registering for or participating in UNITAR's training courses and other events is governed by the Data Protection and Privacy Policy. By applying for, registering for or participating in this event, the participant acknowledges that he or she is, (or they are) aware of the policy and agree to its terms.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office launched the Rio Preparation Forum (RPF) in October 2011 to support the preparation process for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20. The workshops embrace Rio+20 goals for sustainable development and green economy, which integrates economic development and poverty eradication, social and population issues and environmental protection. On 18 June, the UNITAR New York Office will extend the series to Rio de Janeiro by organizing a half-day workshop on sustainable cities.

For centuries, urban areas have served as the cradles of innovation. While this distinction endures, urban areas now provide the home for over half the world’s population and produce close to three quarters of the world’s GDP. Their lure and capacity to serve as an engine for economic growth, however, fosters not only the advantages but also the stress of globalization, population growth and migration. Furthermore, as centers for population and development, cities must address the consequences of environmental degradation including climate change; and, social inequalities, including poverty and unemployment. It is no wonder that the United Nations Secretary-General claimed that “sustainable cities are crucial to our future well-being.

As powerful centers of a complex society, cities must be sustainable. To this end, the UNITAR New York Office will hold a half-day workshop in collaboration with IBM during the lead up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) in Rio de Janeiro on 18 June. The workshop’s agenda will also draw on expertise from the United Nations—including the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—and top IBM Smarter Cities subject matter experts.

As nations' primary engines of economic growth, cities will be integral to the future of global economic development. To accomplish their economic, social, and environmental objectives, however, cities will need to devise innovative frameworks for overcoming complex public policy challenges. To this end, identifying focal points for cooperation that cut across organizational boundaries and different stakeholder groups will be a critical determinant of sustainable urban economic development moving forward.
 
This interactive working session will focus on how innovative models of cross-stakeholder collaboration can make our cities more economically sustainable– better places to live, better places to work, better places to drive innovation.
The workshop aims to provide participants with a comprehensive knowledge base on Sustainable Cities through open, constructive engagement and highly interactive workshops. As a result of the workshop, participants will be better equipped for forging UNCSD goals for sustainable cities in their respective countries, regions, and urban areas.
The workshop will take place on 18 June in Rio de Janeiro from 1 pm - 5:30pm. Lunch will be served and a reception will follow the event. The event will be co-chaired by UNITAR and IBM, and involve panel discussions with United Nations and IBM experts and inter-active break out groups aimed at developing and articulating innovative approaches for fostering sustainable cities.  
As an informative and highly interactive face-to-face event facilitated by UNITAR and IBM, the workshop features UN specialists and renowned economic and urban development experts from academia, civil society, and private companies. Moreover, guest speakers will contribute insights gained from their negotiation and leadership experiences. Throughout the interactive brainstorming sessions that will constitute the majority of the event, participants will have an opportunity to interact with their counterparts from other missions and gain insights from a range of subject matter experts. 
The workshops will be especially important for city leaders, regional planners, economic development professionals, finance administrators and national government leaders that are focused on ensuring the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of their urban centers. Also, other organizations focusing on population, the environment, and urban development will be welcome.  
We welcome you to contact the UNITAR New York Office regarding potential attendees from your delegations. Please note that participation requires a priori liaising with the UNITAR New York Office by 10 June, and only those participants who have pre-registered can attend.  In order to foster small group dialogue and learning, attendance at each event will be capped at 40 participants.
For queries regarding the workshops, please contact nyo [at] unitar.org (nyo[at]unitar[dot]org). Tel (212) 963-9196.