Public Space for City Leaders

Local governments have a clear responsibility in promoting sustainable development and a brighter, prosperous urban future. Public spaces are a common good, a public asset of high value with a direct impact on the quality of life of citizens, including vulnerable groups. Building on the responsibility of local governments, urban policies should be developed at this level to address people's needs.

In 2015, the role of public space in sustainable development received unprecedented recognition by the international community through its inclusion as Target 7 of SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements, and its recognition as a key component to the achievement of SDGs 3, 5, 6 and 13. This has then influenced the development of the New Urban Agenda, and in the coming years the progress achieved must be consolidated.

To further develop the global discussion on public space and contribute to the New Urban

Agenda, the UCLG Committee on Urban Strategic Planning developed the public space policy framework for local governments and by local government practitioners and elected officials. The purpose of the framework is to guide local governments in implementing localized urban policies on public space and to deepen the understanding of local government's role and responsibilities in public space development. The Training Event within the World Urban Forum will provide a space for City Leaders to approach the framework and its goals, to explore its potential, to recognize the challenges specific to their own realities and develop new policies and public spaces or improve existing ones accordingly.