Michael Pearson

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Michael Pearson Deputy Commissioner
General World Urban Forum 3
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Why a World Urban Forum?

• For the first time, in 2007, a majority of the
  worlds population will live in cities.
• The pace of urbanization is rapid, especially in
  developing countries.
• Addressing global issues (climate change,
  pandemic health threats, population growth,
  achieving the MDGs, disaster preparedness, human
  security), requires an urban focus.
• Intergovernmental and trans-societal
  collaboration is key.
• 2006 is the 30th anniversary of the first
  conference on human settlements which led to the
  creation of UN HABITAT.
• UN HABITAT and the WUF process are evolving.

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What is World Urban Forum 3? Our Future
Sustainable Cities Ideas to Action!

• Objectives
• Move from Ideas to ACTION.
• Attract more than 6,000 participants.
• Encourage and strengthen partnerships.
• Strengthen the WUF value to municipal
  practitioners.
• Establish new networks to support actionable
  ideas and investments.
• Share national and local experiences with a
  global audience.

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Canadian Preparations for WUF 3

• A Whole of Canada" Involvement
• State and local governments
• Civil society and the private sector
• Canadian urban best practices and lessons learned

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Canadian Preparations for WUF 3

• Role of Government of Canada
• Supporting HABITAT partnership
• Political and policy leadership
• Linguistic diversity at WUF3
• Promoting role of civil society
• Help build momentum for the WUF process

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Conference Program at a glance

• Five day agenda organized around central theme
• Our Future Sustainable Cities -- Turning Ideas
  into Action.
• Three sub-themes
• Urban Growth and Environment
• Partnership and Finance
• Social Inclusion and Cohesion

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Proposed Agenda

• Opening and closing ceremonies
• Exposition
• Key note speakers
• Plenary dialogue sessions focussed on the theme
  and sub themes
• Networking sessions
• Cultural Events

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Networking Sessions

• Two-hour events organized by members of civil
  society.
• Room for 130 networking sessions on site.
• Room sizes allow for more than 100 participants
  per networking session.

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Networking Sessions

• General guidelines for proposals to hold a
  networking session
• Projects must demonstrate practical, replicable
  partnerships that address issues of urban
  sustainability.
• Projects must show different sectors of society
  working together to improve conditions in urban
  areas.
• Projects must be linked to the WUF3 theme or
  sub-themes.
• Sessions should be interactive.
• January 31 deadline to submit proposals.

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WUF3 Exposition

• The exposition will demonstrate the theme of
  actionable ideas.
• Plans for the Canada pavilion are underway.
  Partners from civil society and private sector
  will be included.
• The City Pavilion space constitutes two-thirds of
  the total exposition space.

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Habitat JAM

• December 1-3 Canada hosted a world-wide on-line
  dialogue on urban sustainability Habitat JAM.
• Registrations from 191 countries.
• Results from JAM will inform agenda for WUF3.

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Habitat JAM

• Tens of thousands of people contributed ideas to
  action for such issues as
• - water
• - environment
• - safety and security
• - finance and governance
• - improving the lives of slumdwellers
• - the future of cities
• www.habitatjam.com

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Beyond WUF3

• Canada and global urban sustainability
• Empowering global debate on the urban agenda
• Getting governments to pay attention to urban
  issues
• Promoting UN HABITAT as broker of urban
  ideas-to-action

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For more information about World Urban Forum 3

• www.wuf3-fum3.ca
• Telephone [phone]