‘ Habitat III ‘ was the 3rd United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, held in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016.
It was one of the first global conferences after the Post 2015 Development Agenda. It was an opportunity to discuss and chart new pathways in response to the challenges of urbanisation and the opportunities it offered for the implementation of the sustainable development goals. The conference brought together diverse urban actors with a view to generate a ‘New Urban Agenda’ for the 21st century, which recognises the ever – changing dynamics of human civilization.
ISOCARP was closely involved with the Habitat III process, the preparations for the Conference in Quito and the development of the New Urban Agenda.
As Vice-President of the General Assembly of Partners towards Habitat III, ISOCARP VP Shipra Narang Suri was one of the drivers of the dialogue between civil society and member states on the preparation of the Zero Draft and further preparatory versions of the New Urban Agenda, which were handed over to the Secretary-General of the Conference, Dr. Joan Clos, and the co-chairs of the Bureau of Habitat III.
New Urban Agenda – Road to Quito
Several statements were delivered by Shipra Narang Suri on behalf of ISOCARP and GAP in the Habitat III dialogues, consultations, regional meetings and PrepComs, which can be viewed below (see Documents). ISOCARP Secretary-General Didier Vancutsem, who co-chaired the Partner Constituent Group “Professionals” of GAP, was involved in mobilising and coordinating the positions of professionals from all over the world in the Habitat III Process. President Ric Stephens initiated an International Planning Blog to coordinate the efforts of all planning associations and related organisations in Quito.
There was a working group within ISOCARP, which was soliciting the inputs of all interested members on the Habitat III process and the New Urban Agenda. Led by ISOCARP members Susanne Fischer and Nicole Wirz, comments on the Zero draft have been consolidated and uploaded on the Habitat 3 website.
