NUA Conference 2017

On the 20th October the Habitat III conference agreed the New Urban Agenda (NUA) as the next phase of the UN Habitat program. The NUA will shape and direct urban policy for the next twenty years in the 167 signatory nations. The Australian Government representative at the conference Gillian Bird, Permanent Ambassador to the Permanent Delegation for Australia to the United Nations endorsed the NUA on behalf of the Australian Government. 

For all nations, the challenge posed by the NUA is to achieve effective implementation over the next 20 years. Governments globally will not be able to do this without the collaboration of a wide range of financial, private sector, public sector, academic and not-for-profit agencies.

Achievement of the NUA will be dependent on a ‘whole nation’ approach if the key objectives of ‘cities for all’ and ‘no-one left behind’ are to be realised. The conference will bring together a wide range of stakeholders from government, civil society, academia and the business community. As well as keynote speakers, the conference will provide significant workshop content to address specific professional interests and foster multi-disciplinary collaboration.

The conference will provide the first opportunity in Australasia and the South East Asia for those who work in planning, infrastructure, economic development, social inclusion, equalities and sustainable urban environments to explore the implications of the New Urban Agenda and begin the development of a roadmap for its implementation.