UNHIII | ENGAGE | Faith-Based Urban Thinkers Campus - Engaging the New Agenda | 13-15 November 2017

[Edited extract from public address]

Bringing Faith-based thinkers together for faith-based communities and organizations to make a significant contribution to the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, otherwise known as UN-Habitat.

Globally, cities today occupy approximately only 2% of the total land, however contribute:

• 70% to Economy (GDP)
• Over 60% to Global Energy Consumption
• 70% to Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• 70% to Global Waste

In 2016 after an extensive three-year inter-governmental and civil society consultation process, member states of the United Nations agreed on a roadmap for urban development for the next twenty years. Entitled the New Urban Agenda (NUA-http://habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda), its purpose is to help guide governments, inter-governmental organizations, business, and civil society to respond to the challenges of a rapidly urbanizing world where over the next 20-30 years 75% of the world’s population will live in cities.  Specifically, the challenge is to develop cities, towns, and neighbourhoods that are “just, safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, resilient and sustainable . . . [and] foster prosperity and quality of life for all. (NUA pg. 3)”

Or more simply from faith perspective create communities of hope, compassion, education and engagement.

A remarkable feature of contemporary thinking in urban development is that faith-based communities and organizations are now seen as a vital component in helping create sustainable and resilient cities around the world. Formal recognition by the United Nations, civil society organizations, and development agencies that faith-based communities are central to the wellbeing of communities in our increasingly urban cultures is long overdue, and offers many new possibilities.

Inclusion: Tuesday 14 November | 6-6.45pm | Parliament of the World's Religions Reception
Hosted by Dr. Mary Nelson at the UN Habitat Faith-based Urban Thinkers Campus featuring discussion and more information about the forthcoming 2018 Parliament of the World's Religions in Toronto and the inclusion of the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration Towards a Global Ethic and its prominence at the forthcoming 2018 Parliament as well as in the Faith-based Urban Thinkers Campus deliberations.

Where: Singapore

Cost: Free (100 Limit)

Bookings: RSVP 1 November 2017. Register online through EventBrite.

MORE:
UN HABITAT III
The United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development
Website: http://habitat3.org

A partnership with the World Urban Campaign, the Urban Thinkers Campus, the Singapore Centre for Global Missions, World Evangelical Alliance Creation Care Task Force, Urban Shalom Project, ARC, and the International Society for Urban Mission