The Pact for the Future of Humanity has been adopted by the UCLG World Council during its gathering on 14 October 2022 at the 7th UCLG World Congress in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Representatives from local and regional governments and stakeholders from around the world participated in the plenary consultations around the three key axes of the Pact: people, planet, and government.
The Pact for the Future of Humanity session on the planet emphasized the need to transform our collective relationship with nature, and that local and regional governments must spearhead the development of a new vision for our common future. To reach this vision, we must address climate change, both from a mitigation and adaptation perspective, while re-examining our values and co-creating systems for resilience.
During the ceremony, Yoon committed to support the development of local governments and to increase their role as key players at the global level. He also referred to the need for more solidarity between nations and local governments in the context of both the pandemic and the climate emergency. He noted that “as we went through the COVID-19 crisis, we were able to realize once again how much of an important role local governments play.”
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) achieved a major milestone with the launch of the Lampedusa Charter during its 7th World Congress in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. The Charter addresses dignified human mobility and territorial solidarity, rethinking citizenship beyond administrative status and centering actions around dignity and solidarity.
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During its first week, the Municipal Times has already witnessed a unique event taking place: the adoption of the Pact of the Future for Humanity by mayors and local leaders from around the world. Among its bold, courageous, feminist, ecological, inclusive, and collective commitments, the Pact also reaffirms “the importance of free media, freedom of expression, agency and critical thinking in ensuring well-informed and empowered citizens.”
The session “The Future of the New Urban Agenda: Moving towards an Inter-Urban Future” took place on the last day of the World Congress, with discussions on the role that the New Urban Agenda plays in the implementation of integrated and balanced territorial development. Representatives from local governments’ associations, academia, and mayors from cities of various sizes presented their perspectives on the paradigm shift proposed by the New Urban Agenda and how to advance the implementation of its inclusive, age-sensitive and gender-sensitive multilevel and multistakeholder approach.
The transformation required to achieve the global agendas on sustainable urbanization, climate change, and sustainable development can only occur if development models respond to the actual needs and expectations of local communities. Often, there is a significant gap between global policies and the needs and experiences of municipal governments. Therefore, local democracy plays a key role in creating collective responsibility for global goals.
Trust is essential to building healthy societies; however, recently citizens’ trust in government institution has been declining. In his annual address, “Our Common Agenda,” the United Nations Secretary-General has called for a new social contract of the 21st century, where trust plays a central role.
The UCLG World Council gathered yesterday to decide on the strategic priorities of the organization for 2022-2028 and to adopt the Presidency’s Report for 2022, the Pact of the Future of Humanity, and the work plan for 2023.
During the Pact for the Future of Humanity plenary session focused on the “government” pillar of the Pact, Ugur Ibrahim Altay, Mayor of Konya, delivered a pledge on behalf of the UCLG Presidency for the approval of the World Council.
