The Town of Collingwood will again be co-hosting a world summit focused on the role small, urban towns can play in sustainable growth and development.
The summit began last year as a partnership between the town, the Urban Economy Forum, and UN-Habitat.
This year, the virtual event will focus on four themes: housing, urban assessment, regional and global connectivity, and public participation/civic engagement.
“The Collingwood summit aims to advocate and advance the role of small cities and towns as major drivers of regional and national sustainability,” states a news release from the town.
According to the website for one of the world summit co-hosts, the Urban Economy Forum, the housing discussions at this year’s summit will be about access to housing finance, access to sustainable building resources, zero-carbon housing technologies, planning and building design in housing, and access to infrastructure and services.
The second topic – urban assessment, benchmarking and urban resources – is all about collecting data and information on the sustainability of development.
On the subject of regional and global connectivity, discussions will range on how to maintain social cohesion and quality of life, food security, building on existing town characteristics, town identity in a growing urban environment, and connectivity to small and larger urban settlements.
Finally, the summit speakers and participants will discuss the role of civic engagement and participation, and the values of good governance and active participation.
UN-Habitat is a United Nations program created to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and adequate shelter for all. The program has established 17 Sustainable Development Goals to help accomplish its mission. The goals are based on the following themes:
- No poverty
- Zero hunger
- Good health and wellbeing
- Quality education
- Gender equality
- Clean water and sanitation
- Affordable and clean energy
- Decent work and economic growth
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Reduced inequalities
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Responsible consumption and production
- Climate action
- Life below water
- Life on land
- Peace, justice and strong institutions
- Partnership for the goals
The Collingwood-based World Summit: Habitat in Towns event is part of the 11th goal: sustainable cities and communities.
Last year, the inaugural event in September 2020, featured 80 speakers including mayors, planners, developers, academics, and finance experts. There were participants from 300 cities across 50 countries.
This year’s event, which takes place Oct. 7 and 8, will bring more of the same kind of participation.
The event is virtual and open to municipal governments and staff, universities, research centres, academics, UN agencies, international organizations, and civil society organizations. For more on the event, click here.