UN-Habitat and Abu-Ghazaleh Joint Chairs: UN Global Network on Promoting Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urbanization

UN-Habitat and Abu-Ghazaleh Joint Chairs: UN Global Network on Promoting Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urbanization

NEW YORK --- June 22, 2015 --- The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) launched the first Global Network on Promoting Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urbanization during a meeting held at the UN Headquarters in New York, US.

The co-chairmanship of the Network was entrusted to HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, one of the most prominent business leaders worldwide and one of the key advocates for the UN goals, and to Dr. Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, and one of the pioneers of urbanization globally. This new mandate follows his leadership of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (UNICTF), UN Global Compact (UNGC), United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UNGAID), and other UN institutions in various domains, including accounting, economic, education, and ICT fields.

This new UN initiative is considered the main decision adopted by the Council after one-day deliberations on the partnerships issue that aimed at enhancing sustainable development. One of the main speakers was former US President Bill Clinton in addition to others leaders from around the world who gathered to exchange views and devise digital solutions for urbanization related issues to make cities more smart and sustainable.

For his part, President of ECOSOC: HE Ambassador Martin Sajdik stressed that partnerships should be based on trust recalling the restructuring process of the Council which was carried out last year, pointing out that launching this Global Network reveals that institutions that have been subject to reform could come up with tangible results.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh highlighted the significance of the Network which aims at combating climate change, selecting the appropriate tools and mechanisms to preserve the purity of air, providing more secure and healthy urban spaces for people of the globe. He said that the ECOSOC took the right path when concentrating on the integration of economic, social and environmental policies that seek to enhance sustainable development and partnership as a means to achieve integration.

“As a citizen of the world I see the world as it is, but also, we need to imagine as it will be and, more importantly, as it could be. Rapid urbanization is at the heart of this period of great flux. It drives technological change and innovation and is driven by it. A world which is predominantly urban can be more creative and conducive to solving long-standing human problems of poverty, disease and ignorance. But for this to happen, smart and sustainable urban planning is needed, with a long-term vision and strong leadership and engagement of all stakeholders, including the business sector.”

He added: “It is my hope that through this Network we can fully engage all existing organizations and networks, the scientific and academic community, as well as technology companies   to create synergies and avoid duplication of efforts. Our aim should be to create a network of networks built at low-cost with optimum global impact.”

Dr. Clos pointed out that one year has passed since the Council discussed sustainable urbanization expressing his happiness to gather for a second time with a tangible work initiative. He stated that the world is urbanized and the future will be even more urbanized, as urbanization incorporates enormous transformation potentials for sustainable development.

The Global Network is expected to enhance exchange of expertise and best practices, to organize a global annual forum, develop principles, standards and tools including digital data banks.