Abu-Ghazaleh Leads Top Urban Planners at the Launch of the Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urbanization Network in Barcelona

Under the patronage of Mayor of Barcelona

Abu-Ghazaleh Leads Top Urban Planners at the Launch of the Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urbanization Network in Barcelona

BARCELONA- November 18, 2015 - HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, in his capacity as co-chair of the Digital Technologies for Sustainable Urbanization Network (Network11) will be heading to Barcelona to welcome global participants at the launch of the Network November which will be held under the patronage of  HE Ms. Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona.

The Network aims to promote sharing experiences and good practices in the use of digital technologies to deliver sustainable urbanization, and to contribute to the discussion towards the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development (Habitat III) and the New Urban Agenda.

It will also provide recommendations and ideas for achieving the objective of sustainable urbanization, including the proposed SDG11 to “make cities and human elements inclusive, save, resilient and sustainable”, as a follow-up to Agenda 2030.

Dr. Joan Clos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat joins the chairmanship of the Network with Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh which will be launched in a special ceremony organized by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) and will be held at the main hall of Fira de Barcelona – Gran Via in Barcelona.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his solid view regarding the launch saying: "History will be made in Barcelona as this innovative public-private partnership network which originated from the Integration Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council on May 28 this year will join a host of urban planners, designers, architects, technology experts and business leaders in making this Network a reality."

“This Network will act as the catapult for designing smart cities and contribute directly to the implementation of the urban dimension of the 2030 Agenda," he added.

Transitioning to a Smart City, Digital technologies, including Internet, for planning and managing sustainable cities, Engaging stakeholders to harness the power of digital technologies for sustainable urbanization are some of the themes that will be discussed by experts from around the world.