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Context

Overview of the Urban 20 (U20) Mayoral Summit that took place in Ahmedabad, India, from 7-8 July.

Details

• The Urban 20 (U20) Mayoral Summit, hosted by Ahmedabad, took place from 7-8 July.
• The summit concluded with the handover of the Communiqué from the Mayors to G20 leaders.
• The Communiqué received the highest ever number of endorsements for any U20 Communiqué, with 105 cities endorsing it.

The Communiqué and Priorities

• The Communiqué serves as an action agenda for the six priorities collectively identified by U20 cities.
• The priorities include:

1.Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors.

2.Accelerating climate finance.

3.Championing local culture and economy.

4.Ensuring water security.

5.Catalyzing digital urban futures.

6.Reinventing frameworks for urban planning and governance.

• The Communiqué is aligned with the G20 theme of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (One Earth, One Family, One Future).

Minister's Address

• Hon’ble Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, emphasized the importance of cities in achieving global goals related to sustainability, inclusivity, and climate resilience.
• The Minister highlighted nine areas for cities to focus on in order to work towards a sustainable future.

G20 Sherpa's Perspective

• G20 Sherpa, Shri Amitabh Kant, stressed the role of cities in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future.
• He emphasized the need for adequate infrastructure finance and better urban planning to address the challenges faced by cities.

Handover Session

• The handover of the Communiqué was moderated by the U20 convenors, C40 Cities and UCLG.
• The Hon’ble Mayor of Ahmedabad handed over the Communiqué to Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and Shri Amitabh Kant.

Support and Organization

• The Summit was hosted with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Govt. of India, and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).
• The U20 Technical Secretariat played a crucial role in organizing the Summit.
• Several spotlight sessions, thematic sessions, and closed-door sessions with city mayors and heads of delegates were held to discuss pertinent urban issues.

Record-breaking U20 Cycle

• The current U20 cycle set a record with over 50 articles, 6 extensive research papers, six white papers, and six U20 bulletins released.
• Technical papers and documents, including the Policy Brief on Mainstreaming Gender in U20 and the Ahmedabad Resilient City Climate Action Plan, were launched during the Summit.

Success and Recognition

• Participants unanimously agreed that this U20 cycle surpassed all previous cycles in various aspects.
• The summit was lauded for its achievements in advancing sustainable urban development.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q) Examine the key priorities identified in the U20 Communiqué and their relevance in addressing urban challenges. (150 words)

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1938397