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Annex – Communiqué’s Relevant Reference Documents
G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers
Rome, November 4, 2024
[pdf]
Urban G7 Meetings
Binding Global Worldwide International Agreements and Global Action Plans
Events and Global Forums
EU Regulation and Policy Actions
The first-ever G7 Ministerial Meeting for Sustainable Urban Development took place in Potsdam on September 13-14, 2022. Hosted by Germany, the meeting focused on several key areas:
The second G7 Sustainable Urban Development Ministers’ Meeting was held in Takamatsu, Kagawa from July 7-9, 2023. Japan, as the G7 Presidency, hosted this meeting with a focus on:
As regards environmental aspects: the urban G7 focuses on tools and practices focused on implementing the directives of the COPs of the Rio Conventions, namely the 29th COP of the UNFCCC and the 6th CMA of the Paris Agreement, the 16th COP of the CBD, the 16th COP of the UNCCD; the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); the goals of the Paris Agreement and the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction (2015).
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 is an international agreement adopted by the United Nations member states in March 2015 during the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan. It aims to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health, as well as in the economic, physical, social, cultural, and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities, and countries.
Key Elements of the Sendai Framework:
Seven Global Targets:
The Sendai Framework emphasizes an all-of-society approach, involving governments, private sector, and civil society in disaster risk reduction efforts.
The agenda is built around 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice, to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015. It entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Its overarching goal is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
However, in recent years, world leaders have stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of this century.
That’s because the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that crossing the 1.5°C threshold risks unleashing far more severe climate change impacts, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.
To limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030.
The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations together to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.
The New Urban Agenda was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, on 20 October 2016. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly at its sixty-eighth plenary meeting of the seventy-first session on 23 December 2016.
The New Urban Agenda represents a shared vision for a better and more sustainable future. If well- planned and well-managed, urbanization can be a powerful tool for sustainable development for both developing and developed countries.
The OECD Principles on Urban Policy consolidate the lessons from the past 20+ years of work on cities to guide policymakers in building smart, sustainable and inclusive cities. The Implementation Toolkit helps use the Principles as a driver of policy reform. The Principles were welcomed by Mayors and Ministers during the 7th OECD Roundtable of Mayors and Ministers on 19 March 2019 in Athens, Greece. Mayors, Ministers and partner institutions committed to supporting the implementation of the Principles through the Athens Pledge.
The Implementation Toolkit of the OECD Principles of Urban Policy aims to support cities, regions and countries in their efforts to use the Principles as a driver of policy reform in diverse urban policy contexts, through the:
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted during the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022. This is a landmark framework aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
The Déclaration de Chaillot (March 2024) is the first engagement of governments to set up roadmaps, integrated policies, regulatory and financial frameworks for decarbonization and resilience of the buildings sector. It sets up an intergovernmental committee on buildings and climate and a cooperation agreement. All the G7 countries, along with 57 other governments endorsed the document.
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is scheduled to take place from October 21 to November 1, 2024, in Cali, Colombia. This conference is a significant event where representatives from various countries gather to discuss and advance global biodiversity goals.
One of the key focuses of COP 16 will be evaluating the progress of countries towards their national goals and targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This framework was established to guide global efforts in conserving biodiversity and ensuring sustainable use of natural resources.
Climate Finance: One of the primary objectives will be to define new quantifiable climate finance goals. This is crucial for supporting developing countries in their climate action efforts.
The 6th Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 6) is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024. This conference is a crucial event where representatives from countries around the world gather to discuss and advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13, 2024. This conference is a significant event for addressing land degradation, desertification, and drought resilience.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a landmark international instrument adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007. It establishes a comprehensive framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well- being of the world’s indigenous peoples.
Key Aspects of UNDRIP:
The Hiroshima AI Process Comprehensive Policy Framework is an international initiative aimed at promoting safe, secure, and trustworthy advanced AI systems. It was developed to maximize the innovative opportunities of AI while mitigating the risks and challenges associated with advanced AI systems, including foundational models and generative AI.
The framework includes two major components:
The framework emphasizes the importance of transparency, accountability, and multi-stakeholder consultation to keep up with rapid technological developments. It was endorsed by the G7 leaders and aims to foster an inclusive global governance for AI.
India held the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. During this period, India hosted the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9-10, 2023. The summit was a culmination of various meetings and processes held throughout the year, involving ministers, senior officials, and civil societies.
Key Highlights of India’s G20 Presidency:
The theme was “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth, One Family, One Future,” emphasizing global unity and cooperation.
Outcomes:
G20 Leaders’ Declaration: Adopted at the New Delhi Summit, this declaration outlined commitments towards the priorities discussed during the year.
Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit: Held on November 22, 2023, to further discuss and implement key outcomes from the New Delhi Summit.
India’s G20 Presidency focused on fostering international cooperation and addressing global challenges through inclusive and sustainable development.
The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization.
The WUF12, convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), will take place in Cairo, Egypt. This will be the first time in over 20 years, the forum is returning to the African continent.
On 10 and 11 February 2025, France will host the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, gathering Heads of State and Government, leaders of international organizations, small and large enterprises, representatives of academia, non-governmental organizations, artists and members of civil society. The event aims to be as inclusive as possible, with broad representation across countries and sectors. Building on the important milestones reached during the Bletchley Park (November 2023) and Seoul (May 2024) summits, this gathering will focus on concrete actions to ensure that the global AI sector can drive beneficial social, economic and environmental outcomes in the public interest. The Summit will address five primary themes:
Discussions will also encompass cross-cutting issues, for instance on gender equality and climate change implications. The summit's foundation is being laid through the collaborative efforts of contact groups, which bring together governments, businesses, and civil society representatives from diverse regions.
The new Circular Economy Action Plan – one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal – aims to reduce the EU's consumption footprint and double its circular material use rate in the coming decade, while boosting economic growth.
The Action Plan puts forward a series of measures, such as making sustainable products the norm in the EU, empowering consumers and ensuring less waste. The rules will also aim to reward manufacturers of products based on their sustainability performance and link high-performance levels to incentives.
The New Leipzig Charter provides a key policy framework document for sustainable urban development in Europe. The Charter highlights that cities need to establish integrated and sustainable urban development strategies and ensure their implementation for the city as a whole, from its functional areas to its neighbourhoods. The document is strongly aligned with the Cohesion Policy and its framework for sustainable urban development. Member States agreed to implement the Charter in their national or regional urban policies.
The common principles are useful references for programming Cohesion Policy (Integrated territorial development and sustainable urban development). The Charter would allow Member States to develop national urban policies of high quality.
The New Leipzig Charter is also accompanied by an Implementing document which intends to guide the next phase of the Urban Agenda for the EU according to renewed parameters.
Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’)
The regulation:
The 8th Environment Action Programme (EAP) is the European Union’s strategic framework for environmental policy until 2030. It entered into force on May 2, 2022, and builds on the European Green Deal.
The programme aims to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient economy while ensuring human well-being and prosperity within planetary boundaries.
Key Objectives:
The Chaillot Agreement refers to the European Social Charter, which was signed at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris on October 18, 1961.
The European Pillar of Social Rights is a framework established by the European Union to promote fair and well-functioning labor markets and welfare systems. It was proclaimed in 2017 at the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Key Principles:
The Pillar is built around 20 key principles and rights, which are divided into three main categories
The implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights is a joint effort by EU institutions, national, regional, and local authorities, social partners, and civil society. The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the main financial instrument supporting the implementation of the Pillar.
As regards innovation and digital and social right aspects: the urban G7 focuses on tools and practices capable of implementing the directives of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law and the Digital Decade policy programme, to guide the digital transformation of EU countries.
The EU Digital Decade is a strategic and comprehensive framework that includes the Digital Decade policy programme, the Digital Decade targets, the objectives, the multi-country projects and the Digital Decade rights & principles to guide Europe’s digital transformation by 2030. The Digital Decade Policy Programme sets out concrete targets in the following key areas:
Digital Skills:
Secure and Sustainable Digital Infrastructure:
Digital Transformation of Businesses:
Digitalisation of Public Services:
The Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence is the first-ever international legally binding treaty in the field of AI, adopted by the Council of Europe in May 2024. This convention aims to ensure that AI systems are developed and used in ways that are consistent with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, while also promoting technological progress and innovation.
Key Features of the Framework Convention are the following.
Source: Official website of Italy's 2024 G7 presidency
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