What to expect in 2023?

Housing, Cities and Climate Change, and Localising the Sustainable Development Goals”, UN-Habitat has outlined the main priorities for 2023. Access to adequate housing for all remains the most urgent priority for cities, which should be included in national and international land-use strategies. Tackling climate change, with cities playing the central role as contributors to climate solutions, is another priority that needs urgent attention. Cities working with national governments and local communities can build more resilient settlements, creating safer communities with improved environmental, social, health, and economic conditions. Finally, localising the Sustainable Development Goals should gain significant attention.

Other trends for 2023, in terms of local efforts, are connected to decarbonization and air quality efforts, people-centred infrastructure, and reduction of the digital divide, specially aiming to ensure a more participatory citizenship engaging youth and older persons.

City diplomacy will continue increasing its scope and influence in achieving sustainable development. In October 2022, Ambassador Nina Hachigian, former first Deputy Mayor for International Affairs for the City of Los Angeles, was appointed as the first-ever Special Representative for Subnational Diplomacy in the U.S. State Department. More national governments will follow on strengthening their engagement and collaboration with mayors and other local officials. Foreign policy through subnational diplomacy will gain space, as will the international engagement and activities of cities to progress on national and global agendas.   

Urban planning strategies will struggle to be as relevant as they should be at the global level, but all decisions taken in terms of territorial development will determine equality and inclusiveness of future structures. The year 2023 will see advances in the planning of new capitals such as Nusantara in Indonesia or the New Administrative Capital in Egypt. However, the “perpetual” questions such as informal settlements, where in some cases three and four generations of citizens have lived, are not in the political agendas. 

Misinformation and cybersecurity, including the spread of false information and the exploitation of personal data, will continue being a global risk affecting trust in governments. Digital rights for citizens and accessible and non-discriminatory digital environments will require more attention.

The first ever UN Water Conference will bring the attention to water-rights, but also to the Blue Economy as a vector for coastal cities or delta-cities to embark on.