Note to Correspondents

MAYORS SEEKING TECHNOLOGICAL FIXES FOR DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL

CHALLENGES TO MEET AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, 23-24 APRIL

Mayors and representatives from the world’s swelling cities will meet at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23 and 24 April to consider how innovative technologies can meet the environmental challenges posed by the rapid growth of urban areas.

With urban regions experiencing rapid population growth -— 2008 will mark the first time in human history that more than half of the world’s population will be living in cities -- mayors are looking for practical solutions to improve living conditions and confront climate change while preventing inequity and exclusion.

Conference participants at “Sustainable Urbanization in the Information Age” will discuss and share best practices and knowledge to bridge the digital divide in the area of sustainable urban design and planning, supported by innovative information and communication technology models for sustainable urban planning.

The event brings together representatives of Member States, local authorities, policymakers, developers, architects, engineers, planners, designers, members of the civil society, media, information and communication technology experts and the private sector.  It is organized by the Global Alliance for ICT and Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA-GAID), UN-HABITAT, the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, and the Regional Plan Association with the City of New York.

Cities are often at the front line of providing basic services and have to deal with issues such as poverty, transportation and congestion, waste and pollution.  The objective of the meeting is to analyze the varying approaches of cities from all over the world in dealing with sustainable urban development.  Another objective is to create awareness on the role of information and communication technology in the area of sustainable architecture and urban planning in a globalizing world.  A further objective is to increase understanding and involvement in Millennium Declaration values with respect to the environment.

The conference will take full advantage of available information and communication technologies and allow the public to listen in and contribute their opinions and ideas simultaneously and virtually.  A blog and website will be set up to feature background information and stimulate discussions around the themes of the meeting.  Conclusions and recommendations of the meeting will be published later as a United Nations publication.

Other sponsors of the conference include the Municipality of Kartal, Istanbul, Turkey, and the Building Social Housing Foundation (BSHF).  Partners include the Urban Land Institute, the NJIT School of Architecture, the Institute for International Urban Development, the City University of New York School of Architecture, the New Jersey Institute of Technology School of Architecture, United Cities and Local Governments, IsoCarp, New York New Visions, and the World Architecture Community.

For more information, please visit www.un-gaid.org or contact Enrica Murmura of UNDESA-GAID, tel.:  +1 212 963 5913, e-mail:  murmura@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record