Global Parliament of Mayors

World Urban Forum
2020-02-08 - 2020-02-13 | Abu Dhabi
The Tenth Edition

The Tenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF 10) will be held from 8-13 February 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This will be the first time that an Arab country will host the world’s most important conference on cities and human settlements.

GPM Chair, Peter Kurz, will represent the GPM at the 10th edition of the World Urban Forum (8-13 February) in Abu Dhabi. The theme of the Tenth Session is Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation. The city of Mannheim is organising a side networking event together with the GPM on Sunday 9th of Febraury ‘The GPM Virtual Parliament the solution to accelerate digital democracy.’ The networking event will highlight the ways in which the GPM is harnessing new technologies to bring large, medium and smaller cities together in a compelling new form of advocacy. It will also show that digitally empowered and emboldened cities can stimulate action in multilateral fora. By showcasing the Virtual Parliament, the networking event will solicit inputs and recommendations, and identifying concrete opportunities to scale-up the Virtual Parliament in participating city networks and cities.
Dialogue Themes

Urbanization, Culture and Innovation
Frontier Technologies and Sustainable Cities

The UN 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) are the main reference frameworks for a sustainable urban transformation. The NUA presents a vision for a more sustainable urban future. Through SDG 11, the UN 2030 agenda addresses cities and human settlements directly whereas many other SDGs can only be achieved in coordination with local actors. While policy is set at the national level, its effects, ramifications and implementation takes place on the local “urban” level, in cities. As a response, cities and their mayors are creating alliances with international organizations, shaping international agendas, and propelling cities into the centre of the international policy-making process. Many international actors, such as the UN or the EU, consider cities as crucial partners for addressing global challenges. However, cities are still largely excluded, at least formally and structurally, from international policy-making. Against this background, the concept of “urban diplomacy” has gained in importance over the last years. It comprises an ever-growing set of activities, which cities are carrying out today.
The Global Parliament of Mayors (GPM) defines itself as a global city rights movement, based on local self-governance, which collaborates with city networks and international organisations by amplifying and publicizing their issues of concern and influencing global partners. The focus of this networking event is on highlighting the connecting power of GPM’s Virtual Parliament. The Virtual Parliament is a unique digital platform offering Mayors from all over the world the opportunity to exchange views, to debate on political issues, provide direct information and to engage in global policy decision making processes. In 2019, for the first time ever, the GPMs Virtual Parliament has facilitated a virtual debate leading to a resolution on “Empowering cities to cope with global challenges“, which was presented at the first UN Habitat Assembly. The Virtual Parliament is a tool in the hands of Mayors, which fosters digital democracy. Furthermore, it accelerates political inclusion by engaging especially Mayors from remote countries and the “global south”, often with limited capabilities of attending international political gatherings themselves. The GPMs Virtual Parliament helps cities pooling their resources and acting collectively to make their voices heard. Vice versa, the Global Parliament of Mayors offers internationals bodies such as UN-Habitat a unique accessible channel for direct communication and coordination with progressive Mayors from all over the world.

WUF10 is convened by UN-Habitat in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, General Secretariat of the Executive Council, and the ultra-modern Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The theme of the Tenth Session is Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation.

The World Urban Forum (WUF) was established in 2001 by the United Nations to address one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. Convened by UN-Habitat, the Forum is a high level, open and inclusive platform for addressing the challenges of sustainable urbanization.

The World Urban Forum has the following objectives:

Raising awareness of sustainable urbanization among stakeholders and constituencies, including the general public;
Improving collective knowledge on sustainable urban development through open and inclusive debate, exchange of best practices and policies, and sharing of lessons learnt.
Promote collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholders and constituencies engaged in the advancement and implementation of sustainable urbanization.

Cities Forum
2020-01-30 - 2020-01-31 | Porto, Portugal
Organised by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, and the City of Porto
The “CITIES Forum 2020 – “together we shape a sustainable urban future” is a two-day major event of the European Commission bringing together key stakeholders from European, national and local levels. The Forum is a place for all stakeholders to capitalise on common achievements and reflect on the future directions of urban development within Cohesion Policy including the future of the Urban Agenda for the EU.
On the first day, we will touch base and organise two workshops in the City of Porto showcasing how this city works on technology solutions and deals with climate and environmental issues at specific locations in the city. At the same time, a CityLab on balanced territorial development in relation to the renewal of the Leipzig Charter is scheduled. In the afternoon of the first day welcoming words and introductions of high-level speakers will be followed by two panel discussions on “how will the European Urban Initiative support cities” and “shaping the future of sustainable urban development including the Urban Agenda for the EU”.
On the second day several parallel workshops will allow the creation of your own urban workshop ‘menu’. Be inspired by cities presenting good practises making use of European Regional Development Funds, learn more about the outcome of the assessment study on the Urban Agenda for the EU, be prepared for a transition towards a circular economy and the issues cities face related to housing and equal access to services for all. Join in to learn how you can strengthen your local economy by focusing on Jobs&Skills and help us boosting digital transformation in cities and communities. After the workshops Mayors from different EU cities will reflect on their current challenges and will share their visions on the way forward towards better urban policy making and urban investments.
After lunch, we will continue with different sessions highlighting the progress made so far by the Urban Agenda Partnerships, how to localise the UN Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals or be vocal on what you think the European Urban Initiative should focus on.
A small exhibition will also be open to participants where urban organisations and networks host stands, engage and provide information on urban programmes and initiatives.
We very much look forward to your participation in this important event. As space will be limited, we encourage you to register at the earliest opportunity! Please note that priority will be given to those who register early and attend both days.
Please note that for the main plenary sessions (taking place in the Archive Hall) Portuguese, French and German will be interpreted from and into English.

88th Winter Meeting USCM
2020-01-22 - 2020-01-24 | Washington D.C
The United States Conference of Mayors’ 88th Winter Meeting will take place January 22-24, 2020 in Washington, DC. It will be presided over by Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett.

The United States Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are over 1,400 such cities in the country today. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.
The Conference holds its Winter Meeting each January in Washington, D.C. and an Annual Meeting each June in a different U.S. city. Additional meetings and events are held as directed by the Conference leadership.
Conference members speak with a united voice on organizational policies and goals. Mayors contribute to the development of national urban policy by serving on one or more of the conference’s standing committees. Conference policies and programs are developed and guided by an Executive Committee and Advisory Board, as well as the standing committees and task forces which are formed to meet changing needs.
During the Conference’s Annual Meeting in June, standing committees recommend policy positions they believe should be adopted by the organization. At this time, every member attending the annual meeting is given the opportunity to discuss and then vote on each policy resolution. Each city, represented by its mayor, casts one vote.
The policy positions adopted at the annual meeting collectively represent the views of the nation’s mayors and are distributed to the President of the United States and Congress.
In addition to the ongoing work of the Conference’s standing committees, mayors are organized into task forces to examine and act on issues that demand special attention such as civic innovation, exports, hunger and homelessness, and brownfields.

Cities at a crossroads EUROCITIES 2019
2019-11-20 - 2019-11-22 | Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2019 is a year of transformation and renewal, at European level but also for cities. Where better to hold our annual conference than in Prague, where old meets new and the challenges of transforming a city can be directly experienced.
Prague has always been considered as a city at many crossroads. Today, leaders of all cities are looking to manage the transition to future fit, sustainable and inclusive cities and a Europe that reflects our societies. The EUROCITIES annual conference in Prague will reflect on the new political landscape at EU level, as well as the changing landscapes in our own cities. How can we retain genuine urban life within the historic cores of modern European cities, and how can we bring back city life and find new purpose for old municipal or industrial sites that no longer serve their original purposes? Sharing knowledge and experiences will be highly inspirational for participants from cities dealing with similar issues.

GPM Summit 2019
2019-11-09 - 2019-11-11 | Durban, South Africa, eThekwini, South Africa
The most critical challenges that humankind faces in this decade, from migration and pandemic diseases to social inequality and urban security, must be solved in cities. More than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities, so it is inconceivable that national and international bodies decide on policy actions without the cities and their mayors present as equal partners in shaping global policy. To drive a fundamentally important shift in this structure, this year’s GPM Summit will focus on ‘Empowering Cities for the 2020s, a decade of change: shaping multi-level governance on a global scale.’
Through its work bringing Mayors’ voices to the fore, GPM offers a complementary governance approach to the current nation states system and invites all mayors to join forces on tackling these critical issues, formulate progressive yet achievable resolutions, and vote as a parliament for the Durban Declaration 2019. Through debates and votes, the GPM drives Mayors from cities around the world to unite by taking a collective position to create better solutions for the world, its cities and its citizens. Participation at the Summit will also demonstrate effective city-to-city cooperation at a global scale. It will advocate for cities and its city networks to be formally represented in international frameworks through multi-level governance. City networks and international experts from around the world will participate in the Summit, to ensure a clear, united message to amplify city voices in support of the 2030 Agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year the GPM Summit will be followed directly by the UCLG World Congress and World Council in Durban.
You can find the participants list here and register for this global event here.

The 2019 Chicago Forum on Global Cities
2019-06-05 - 2019-06-08 | Chicago, United States of America
Each year, the Chicago Forum, hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Financial Times, raises provocative questions about the rising influence of global cities and their capacity to solve pressing global challenges. This unique international forum brings together leaders across corporate, civic, educational, and cultural sectors to share innovative solutions and insights on topics such as inequality, security, climate change, and disruptive technologies. Hundreds of business leaders, mayors, scholars, and artists from more than 35 countries attend the forum to deepen their understanding of how cities are driving the global economy and influencing the world. Participants leave with new connections and are inspired with ideas to advance beyond the event.

The 2019 ICORN Network Meeting & PEN International WiPC Conference
2019-05-29 - 2019-06-01 | Rotterdam, the Netherlands
The 2019 ICORN Network Meeting & PEN International WiPC Conference is titled At Home, Everywhere.
Under the title At Home, Everywhere, more than 300 writers, artists, activists, city representatives, sister networks and experts from around the globe will meet in Rotterdam 29-31 May 2019 for the biennial ICORN Network Meeting and PEN International WiPC Conference, to explore what it means to be at home in today’s world, and what it means to be bereft of it. We will discuss the role of cities and communities in supporting writers, journalists and artists, so they can continue to raise awareness globally and be change actors for democratic values and freedom of expression. The main venue for At Home, Everywhere – The ICORN Network Meeting & PEN International WiPC Conference is the ship SS Rotterdam, which had its maiden voyage in 1959 from Rotterdam to New York, and for years carried Dutch migrants to the United States of America, in search and hope of a new home.

Migration & Integration meeting
2019-04-08 - 2019-04-11
The Working Group Migration & Integration will meet from 8 to 10 April 2019 and is hosted by the City of Toulouse.
On Monday 8 evening, the participants are invited to attend the exhibition “Frontiers” at the space Diversité Laïcité of Toulouse City Hall at 19.00.
On Tuesday 9, we will start at 9.00 with the official welcome by the Mayor of Toulouse at the Town Hall, Place du Capitole. This plenary will be followed by two parallel workshops on city policies for integration of children and young migrants. In the afternoon, we will visit some city services and projects for the socio-economic integration of young migrants.
On Wednesday 10, the WG meeting will start with a thematic discussion and focus group on how to build a guideline for city policies on the integration of young migrants. The day will continue with a debate on the attitude of local population towards migrants, and will end with EUROCITIES and members policy and project updates.

Mayors Summit on the Future of Europe
2019-03-20 - 2019-03-21 | Brussels, Belgium
EUROCITIES will hold its second mayors summit next 20-21 March 2019 in Brussels to launch its political manifesto ahead of the European elections and to present the results of our cities’ work in bridging the gap between Europe and its citizens.

At a time when Europe is striving to retain its legitimacy and relevance, cities can provide a critical link with people. The mismatch between citizens’ expectations and what can be done to tackle our most pressing challenges is causing an increasing distance between political institutions and the public. With EUROCITIES ‘Cities4Europe–Europe for citizens‘ campaign, cities are now leading the way towards the creation of societies where people come first and where trust between people and public authorities is strengthened.

As mayors and city leaders from across Europe we are committed to being strategic partners to the EU institutions and working towards a more positive future for Europe and its people. That is why the summit will be the opportunity to launch our political manifesto ahead of the European elections in May: ‘The city leaders’ agenda for the EU’.

Fourth United Nations Environment Assembly Cities Summit
2019-03-11 - 2019-03-15 | Nairobi, Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
The global economy and population is growing, but the planet is not. We have to be smarter and more circular in the way we grow our cities where we expect an additional 2.5 billion people by 2050. Already sixty percent of our waste and three quarters of resource use and GHG emissions come from cities making them the best place to promote sustainable consumption and production. Taking a dual lens of SDGs 11 – Sustainable Cities, and 12 – Sustainable Consumption and Production allows us to implement solutions at city level to contribute to most if not all other SDGs.
Taking an integrated approach to urban infrastructure will be key to accelerate the transitions to circular and low-carbon economies. According to the “Weight of Cities” by the International Resource Panel, cities can achieve some 30-55% reduction of GHG emissions, water and metal consumption and land-use compared to baseline projections by leveraging connections and resource sharing across urban systems such as green buildings, district energy systems, bus rapid transport, the transition to renewables combined with strategic densification. Within cities, integrated urban projects are piloted where cost-effective, but often without being linked to a broader policy and planning approach at the local and national levels. This results in missed opportunities and isolated demonstrations that are not replicated, scaled up, or considered in the context of sustainable development and climate strategies.

International Woman's Day
2019-03-08 | Global
Right now is a great and important time in history to do everything possible to help forge a more gender-balanced world. Women have come a long way, yet there’s still more to be achieved.
As the world heads toward International Women’s Day, step-by-step planning is underway to celebrate women’s achievements and tenaciously challenge bias.
The International Women’s Day 2019 campaign theme of #BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world.

Forum 2019 Cities and Regions for Development Cooperation
2019-02-04 - 2019-02-05 | Brussels, Belgium
GPM will be represented in this years 2019 Cities and Regions for Development Cooperation organised by the European Committee of the Regions. The first part of the Forum will be organised around panel discussions, while the second part is built on an interactive “Open Space” methodology “, clustered around the 5Ps of the New European Consensus. In this session, participants will be able to discuss topics of their interest, interact and generate insights and recommendations directed to the European institutions, through cross-fertilization of ideas. This participatory approach will ensure the ownership of all stakeholders and allow them to actively shape the event conveying policy recommendations to the European Institutions.

International Day of Human Solidarity
2018-12-20

International Migrants Day
2018-12-18

EUROCITIES 2018 Edinburgh
2018-11-28 - 2018-11-30 | Edinburgh International Conference Centre, The Exchange Edinburgh, 150 Morrison St,, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE, United Kingdom

World Cities Day
2018-10-31

United Nations Day
2018-10-24 - 2018-10-25

European week for regions and cities
2018-10-08 - 2018-10-12
The Urban Dimension of Global Agendas in the EU
The European response to the 2030 Agenda includes joining up the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to the European policy framework and priorities.
The Urban Agenda for the EU is a key delivery mechanism for the New Urban Agenda within the European Union. The European Commission is also launching a reflection work on the topic and to engage all stakeholders towards full implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
DG-JRC and DG-REGIO aim to enhance policy coordination and dissemination of good practices of territorial and urban development. More specifically, DG-JRC contributes to the monitoring and reporting of the urban dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the New Urban Agenda. This is being done through gap analysis and the development of harmonised tools across different spatial scales (from global to sub-national). It will contribute to ensure coherence between the EU action and the Global action on sustainable urban development, and in particular SDG 11, including by facilitating the coordination with Member States.
This initiative builds on the existing collaboration between DG-REGIO and DG-JRC in the field of urban policy, such as: LUISA territorial development model and its adaptation to Africa and other continents, the Territorial Strategies Identification database (URBADEV project), the Urban Data Platform, and the Territorial Dashboard, as well as other JRC projects that serve as input for these platforms.
This workshop aims to discuss how these tools can be used to enhance the contribution of relevant EU policies to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda

International Day of Democracy
2018-09-15 - 2018-09-16

Smart City Expo LATAM Congress
2018-09-11 - 2018-09-14

International Youth Day
2018-08-12 - 2018-08-13

Nelson Mandela International Day
2018-07-18 - 2018-07-19

Moscow Urban Forum
2018-07-17 - 2018-07-23

Local and Regional Governments’ Forum - High Level Political Forum
2018-07-16 - 2018-07-17
In 2018, the High-Level Political Forum – the United Nation’s central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda – will focus on the theme, “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies”. Sustainable Development Goals 6 [Clean Water and Sanitation], 7 [Affordable and Clean Energy], 11 [Sustainable Cities and Communities], 12 [Sustainable Consumption and Production], 15 [Life on Land], and 17 [Partnerships for the Goals] will be under in-depth review.

World Cities Summit Singapore
2018-07-08 - 2018-07-13 | Sands Expo & Convention Centre, 10 Bayfront Ave, 018971, Singapore

World Refugee Day
2018-06-20 - 2018-06-21

ICLEI World Congress 2018
2018-06-19 - 2018-06-23
Together towards sustainable cities
Integrate • Collaborate • Innovate

World Day against Child Labour
2018-06-12 - 2018-06-13

Chicago Council on Global Affairs
2018-06-06 - 2018-06-09
This event will be held in Chicago.

Federation of Canadian Municipalities Annual Conference and Trade Show
2018-05-31 - 2018-06-04 | Halifax Convention Centre, 1650 Argyle Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J, Canada
