United Nations North Lawn Building, New York, NY
Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), in collaboration with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) held a Side Event on Environmental Health Initiatives: Innovative Approaches for Building Sustainable Cities. The event took place during the Informal Consultations on the Zero Draft of the Outcome Document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in New York City from April 23 to May 4, 2012.
With increased migration from rural to urban areas for economic opportunities, local governments are faced with the challenges of providing public services to ever-growing populations. Access to decent housing, clean and safe water, sanitation and waste management services, public transportation, energy sustainability and healthcare are urgent concerns. In moving forward, legislators need to ensure a holistic approach when building sustainable cities; one that takes into account the health and well-being of their constituents.
The purpose of this Side Event was to contribute to the discussions on Sustainable Cities toward the Rio+20 Conference by discussing the challenges faced by modern cities and possible solutions to these challenges. The Side Event highlighted innovative approaches to environmental health that help reduce the adverse effects on urban populations, as well as the importance of national parliaments in furthering sustainable development.
