UN75 and Beyond: Inclusive Multilateralism and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) as a Tool
23 October 2020 | Online
The theme of this meeting, organized by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, is “UN75 and beyond: Inclusive Multilateralism and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLR) as a Tool.”
This virtual meeting will, on the occasion of the UN’s 75th anniversary on 24 October, provide space for a dialogue among urban leaders and UN officials to explore the innovative options the urban world offers to deliver on inclusive multilateralism towards 2030, with a focus on VLRs as an innovative tool. Presentations will focus on: UN75 and inclusive multilateralism; the City of Bonn joining the VLR movement; and the German experience of inclusive multilateralism.
Since 2018, with the first global review of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and with the momentum created by the New York City VLF Declaration, a growing number of local and regional governments are preparing their VLRs and submitting them to the UN. The process is further supported by the release of the VLR Guidelines by UN-Habitat and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in 2020. Also In July 2020, the UN Secretary-General released his COVID-19 in Urban World policy brief, which focuses on tackling inequalities, strengthening capacities, and pursuing a green recovery.
The VLR preparation is even more important in light of the launch of the Decade of Action to deliver on the SDGs, with local action constituting one of the three pillars.
IISD, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, will provide web coverage and a summary report of UN75 and Beyond.
Event Resources
- Website for UN75 and Beyond
- UN75 Report
- Statement by the UN Secretary General on UN75
- UN75 Response of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments
- ICLEI’s Blueprint to Enhance UN Collaboration with Local and Regional Governments
- NYC VLR Declaration
- UCLG-UN-Habitat VLR Guidelines
- List of VLRs Submitted to UN DESA
- 2020 VLR of the City of Bonn
- VLR Workshop of City of Bonn at Daring Cities Forum, 16 October
IISD/ENB Meeting Coverage
- Reactions of Local and Regional Governments to the UN75 Report, 8 October 2020, Online
- Forum of Mayors 2020, 6 October 2020, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
- Coverage of Selected Side Events at the UN Summits Week 2020, 22-29 September 2020, Virtual
- 75th Anniversary of the UN, 21 September 2020, Virtual
- SDG Moment, 18 September 2020, Virtual
- Coverage of Selected Side Events at the 2020 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2020), 7-16 July 2020, Virtual
- World Congress of United Cities and Local Governments and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, 11-15 November 2019, Durban, South Africa
- 1st Session of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Assembly, 27-31 May 2019, UN-Habitat headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya
- 2nd World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments, 16 October 2016, Quito, Ecuador
- UCLG World Congress and World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders, 12-15 October 2016, Bogota, Colombia
- Habitat III Informal Hearings with Stakeholders, 6-7 June 2016, UN Headquarters, New York
- Habitat III Informal Hearings with Local Authorities Associations, 16-17 May 2016, UN Headquarters, New York
- Habitat III Open-Ended Informal Consultative Meetings, 25-29 April 2016, UN Headquarters, New York
- 23rd Session of the UN-Habitat Governing Council, 11-15 April 2011, Nairobi, Kenya
IISD Resources
- Subscription Page for ENB Update, SDG Update, and Peer-to-Peer Community Mailing Lists (including SDG News, Climate News, Biodiversity News, Ocean News, Trade and Sustainable Development News, and Regional Updates)
- SDG Update Newsletter - A compilation of news, commentary and upcoming events published on the SDG Knowledge Hub
- SDG Knowledge Hub - An Online Resource Center for News and Commentary Regarding the Implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)