Highlights for Monday, 27 May 2019
Delegates gather for the start of the first UN-Habitat Assembly
On Monday, the inaugural UN-Habitat Assembly (UNHA 1) started its deliberations at the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON), Kenya. Delegates elected Martha Delgado Peralta, Mexico, as President of the Assembly, as well as regional Vice-Presidents, members of the Executive Board, and other officers, and adopted the meeting’s agenda and rules of procedure. In his opening address, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya, emphasized that the world “is currently ill-prepared to plan effectively for rapid urbanization,” urging for international cooperation to fulfill UN-Habitat’s mandate. Participants also listened to opening statements by, inter alia: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, via video; Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Acting Director-General, UNON, and UN-Habitat Executive Director; UN-Habitat Assembly President Delgado; Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UN Environment Programme; and Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, Indonesia.The UN-Habitat Assembly heard reports from Fernando Coimbra, Brazil, Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives, as well as from Executive Director Sharif on UN-Habitat activities, including on progress in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Throughout the day, several platforms were opened, including the Urban Solutions Expo, the City Stage, and the Youth Tent. Delegates also attended two special events, including a ministerial roundtable on infrastructure, cities and local action to mobilize commitments for the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit, and a women’s event on promoting inter-generational leadership for sustainable urbanization.Twenty-two side events took place during the day focusing on, inter alia:
planning for climate action, including modern, low carbon, and inclusive public transport;
innovative financing and engagement strategies for urban development, as well as efforts to close the infrastructure gap;
regional and national sustainable urban initiatives;
integration of migrants in urban areas;
community-driven data, local participation, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for innovative inclusive cities at the local, national and international levels; and
promoting spatial equality and justice.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and also produced a summary report from the 1st Session of the UN-Habitat Assembly, which is available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Opening Plenary
View of the dais during the opening plenary
Plenary opens with a number of musical performances
UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif congratulates Martha Delgado Peralta, Mexico, on her election as the President of UNHA 1
UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif
Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President
Shipra Narang-Suri, Urban Planning and Design Branch, UN-Habitat
Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya
Emma Stevens, Indigenous Youth Representative
Ridwan Kamil, Governor of West Java Province, Indonesia
Sona Jobarteh, UN-Habitat’s Goodwill Ambassador
Moderator James Ohayo, UN-Habitat
Delegates stand as plenary is filled to capacity
Special Events Throughout the Day
Susannah Price, Head of Communications Branch, UN-Habitat Secretariat; Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President; and UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif, speak during the UN-Habitat Assembly Opening Press Conference
Young Women to Women - Promoting Inter-generational Leadership for Sustainable Urbanization
Ministerial Roundtable on Infrastructure, Cities and Local Action: Mobilizing commitments for the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit 2019
Afternoon Plenary
View of the dais during the afternoon plenary
Fernando Coimbra, Chair, Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR), UN-Habitat
Lori Dando, US Permanent Representative to the UN in Nairobi
Delegates applaud the election of various officers
Elias Guia Lopez, Spain
Wallis Goelen, EU
Celestine Ketcha Courtès, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Cameroon
Russom Beyene, Eritrea, speaking on behalf of the African Group
Vladimir Yakushev, Minister of Construction and Housing, Russian Federation
Hazem Shabat, Palestine, speaking on behalf of the G-77/China
Abdou Karim Fofana, Minister of Urban Planning, Housing, and Public Health, Senegal
Around the Venue
Delegates speak informally before the start of plenary
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya, arrives at the venue
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya, visits various exhibitions around the venue
UN Security around the venue
UN-Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Mohd Sharif; Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Fiji; and Martha Delgado Peralta, UNHA 1 President, during the Ministerial Roundtable
Shipra Narang-Suri, Urban Planning and Design Branch, UN-Habitat (far right) helps delegates play a game of Minecraft to redesign green spaces around the UN Offices in Nairobi, demonstrating innovative ways of engaging people in urban design and planning
The Urban Solutions Expo aimed at promoting innovative and sustainable solutions for the challenges faced by cities and communities
Delegates discuss new ideas at one of the information booths
