Ahmedabad set to host U20 Mayoral Summit on July 7-8

India is ready to host the Urban 20 (U20) meet in Ahmedabad, under its G20 Presidency. The city is all set to host the Urban20 (U20) Mayoral Summit on July 7-8 . The summit is expected to bring together several city leaders and mayors from across G20 nations. The summit will also be attended by delegates representing various cities, knowledge partners, Indian and international organisations, academic institutes and dignitaries from the Government of India and the Gujarat. The city of Ahmedabad is the Urban 20 (U20) 2023 chair, following a handover from Jakarta, the U20 2022 chair. More than 20 mayors from across the world and about 25 from Indian cities will share the stage and share their experiences of their respective city level actions and initiatives. Six white papers focusing on the six U20 priorities will also be released in these sessions by the dignitaries. Another exclusive session for mayors will be a round table on climate finance led by U20 Conveners, UCLG and C40 and the cities of Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Ahmedabad.

U20 is an Engagement Group under India’s G20 presidency. It is a city diplomacy initiative, comprising cities from G20 countries, emphasising the role of cities in taking forward the global agenda for sustainable development through collaboration among cities. Ahmedabad is the U20 Chair for the current sixth cycle and is supported by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) as the Technical Secretariat, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) as the nodal ministry.  The 2023 U20 chair has identified six priority areas building on this year’s G20 theme “One Earth – One Family – One Future” that are critical for inspiring city level actions to respond to global agendas: (1) encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors, (2) ensuring water security, (3) accelerating climate finance, (4) championing local identity, (5) reinventing frameworks for urban governance and (6) planning and catalyzing digital urban futures. The event will also host an exhibition showcasing India’s urban story, especially city level successes, notable projects and innovative initiatives. There will also be a screening of select films to help raise awareness about the multifaceted impacts of climate change on urban areas and vice versa.