Surabaya, 25 July 2016 – UN-Habitat Executive Director, Dr Joan Clos has said that much of the success in achieving the goals of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda will depend on “building sustainable cities.”

Dr Clos made the statement at the press conference for the opening of the third Preparatory Committee of the United Nations Human Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development to be held in Quito, October this year, of which he is also the Secretary General.  The conference was opened by the Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla.

“Building sustainable cities will be a major factor in the success of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda as well as other adopted global frameworks,” he said, “Particularly Sustainable Development Goal 11, which calls for making cities and urban settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”

Last deliberations on the New Urban Agenda

Dr. Joan Clos was speaking at a joint press conference with Basuki Hadimuljono, the Minister of Public Works and Housing Development of Indonesia, where the conference is being held.  Both speakers expressed their views and gratitude of everyone’s presence at the event held in Surabaya.

Dr. Clos explained that there are 38 side events and 28 parallel events already running, an Urban Speakers corner and an exhibition area.

The PrepCom3 will be the last opportunity for member states to deliberate and agree on the New Urban Agenda before Habitat III in Quito.