Nearly 4000 people participated in the first week of the City Changer Dialogues on www.worldurbanforum.org! Among several interesting discussions was one that focused on seven basic principles of urban planning – Plan in advance; Plan at scale; Plan in phases; Plan for social integration; Plan for density; Plan for connectivity; Plan for energy efficiency and risk prevention.

Most participants endorsed the seven principles, but noted that some elements specific to the context will need to be added or adapted, and cities in developing and developed countries will give varying importance to different elements. Additional elements relevant for many cities include planning for economic development, and placemaking. Experiences from Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru and United States were shared. For both the developing and developed world, a strong ethical basis for planning and a rights-based approach seem to hold the key in addition to the seven principles outlined.

The Urban Planning E-Dialogue continues at www.worldurbanforum.org. This week’s focus is on urban planning policies, institutions and regulations. Sign up and share your experiences, learn from others, or simply connect with like-minded professionals!

Background and more information

ISOCARP and UN-HABITAT have formed a constructive partnership in recent years, as evidenced by our collaboration in the 2010 Nairobi Congress, and UN-HABITAT’s subsequent involvement in Wuhan in 2011. ISOCARP has now been invited by UN-HABITAT to play an important role in its forthcoming World Urban Forum in Naples, to be held between 1-7 September 2012.

To begin with, ISOCARP has been engaged by UN-HABITAT to moderate one of the four “City Changer Dialogues” being run online by UN-HABITAT between 7-25 May.

We would like to invite you to participate actively in these E-Dialogues, and especially the one on Urban Planning, which is being moderated by ISOCARP. ISOCARP Vice President Technical Assistance Shipra Narang Suri is the Lead Moderator on the Urban Planning Dialogue. Fernanda Magalhaes and Peter Robinson are Co-moderators.

The focus of the Dialogue is on Urban Planning – Institutions, Regulations and Quality of Public Spaces, areas which will interest many of our members. As you are well aware, urban planning is a key instrument for guiding urban development and creating prosperity in cities. However, traditional modes of planning have largely proved ineffective in dealing with the challenges of urbanization, e.g. poverty and the growth of slums, urban sprawl, and the impacts of climate change, natural disasters as well as man-made crises. Planning frameworks, including their tools, institutions and regulations, play a significant role in determining the livability of cities. The Dialogue on Urban Planning will discuss these issues and more, and will welcome ideas, views and experiences from participants around the globe.

Registration is open on www.worldurbanforum.org.

Join in, and make yourselves heard on an important global platform!

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