On 1 July 2024, 52 countries joined the Statement on “Digitalization of Cities and Human Rights”. It is the first time that the UN Human Rights Council addresses the question of ‘smart cities’. While digitalization presents many opportunities (accessibility of public services, enhanced civic participation), it also entails human rights risks, including those arising from …
On 26 June 2024, at the occasion of the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the Global Cities Hub (GCH) hosted a Geneva Urban Debate on “Advancing Drug Policy Reform at the Local Level”. The event was co-organized by the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP), UN Habitat, with the sponsorship of the Permanent Missions of …
On 20 June 2024 we discussed how the international community can offer a path towards a sustainable ocean economy involving coastal cities and regions. The Role of Cities in the Ocean Economy Speakers of the Geneva Urban Debate “Towards a Sustainable Ocean Economy: What Role for Cities?” emphasized the critical but often under-valued role of …
On 14 June 2024, Global Cities Hub and UN-Habitat signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue their successful cooperation. The purpose of this MoU is to provide a framework of collaboration to advance the participation and engagement of LRGs in multilateralism and various aspects of sustainable urban development. UN Assistant Secretary-General and Acting Executive Director …
Taking part in the Smart City Leaders Talk, Mayor Manuel de Araujo gave an interview to Geneva Solutions about the journey of digital transformation in his city, Quelimane (Mozambique). His mission is to turn his coastal city of 350,000 inhabitants into a digital hub properly connected with other cities. Read the interview here.
On 29 May 2024, a few days ahead of Heat Action Day, the Global Cities Hub co-organized an event with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre on “Cities beat the heat”. With heatwaves being on the rise globally, occurring earlier in the summer, getting both longer and hotter due to climate change, we felt …
The Smart City Leaders’ Talk at the WSIS+20 High-level Events on 28 May 2024 discussed the issue of people-centered and sustainable smart city development and provided a great example of an inclusive dialogue between international organizations and local governments on this crucial topic. Hosted by ITU WSIS Process, co-organized by GCH and WeGO, with the …
On 13-14 May, in Strasburg, the GCH took part in an event organized by the Strong Cities Network to discuss the role of cities in preventing hate, violent extremism and radicalization at the local level. The event gathered around 20 cities from both sides of the Atlantic (France, Belgium, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK, USA, Canada), as well as NGOs and Academia working in a relevant field. More than 50 participants took part in this transatlantic dialogue aiming at sharing best practices in preventing hate and strengthening social cohesion.
It is widely assumed that AI and AI-associated technologies will enhance economic growth and public well-being in ‘smart cities’. GCH’s new policy paper argues that local and regional governments (LRGs) should deploy these technologies, but only when they contribute to LRGs’ public mission and enhance the quality of life and meet the needs of their …
The Human Development Index (HDI) decreased in 2020 – for the first time since its launch in 1990 – and again in 2021. It has been increasing for the last two years, but some analysts fear that the setback remains permanent. The Smart City Leaders’ Talk organized by the Global Cities Hub on 28 May …
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