Catalyzing the New Urban Agenda by Integrating Resources and Collaborative Governance

The implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs requires an innovative, multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional approach to counter ‘silo thinking’ and create co-benefits in vital urban sectors, and the urban nexus approach responds ideally to that need. The urban nexus approach aims to integrate planning and management of the key sectors of energy, water and land/food at the local level, which contributes substantially to the long-term sustainable development of rapidly growing cities. Specifically, this approach addresses key challenges facing cities, such as sustainable water supply, wastewater and solid waste management, urban agriculture, service delivery, and land use planning and management, through integrated and innovative solutions and processes. A key factor for the success of the urban nexus approach is collaborative governance, involving horizontal and vertical integration that builds upon existing urban development strategies for enhanced cross-sectoral and cross-jurisdictional coordination. In doing so, the urban nexus offers customized solutions to sustainably govern rural-urban linkages and resource interdependencies through comprehensive spatial perspectives.

The side event will start with a presentation of the Urban Nexus concept and overview of the Urban Nexus project based on the vision of a circular economy, followed by a panel discussion on local experiences with implementing the New Urban Agenda and sustainable development with resource integration as the focus. The panel format will consist of Urban Nexus project partners and beneficiary cities sharing lessons learned from their direct implementation of the urban nexus approach and highlighting resource efficiency gains, collaborative governance, infrastructure and technological solutions. The audience benefits by gaining new knowledge of the concept and well-documented practical solutions.