Cities confront unparalleled demographic, environmental, economic, and social challenges. The trajectory toward urbanization has been remarkable, with half of the global population currently residing in urban areas. Projections suggest that by 2050, nearly 70 percent of the world’s population will call cities their home. The bulk of this urban expansion will occur predominantly in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Without effective urban planning, the repercussions of a rapid urbanization will be profound. Across various regions globally, the ramifications are already evident: insufficient housing, outdated and inadequate infrastructure, public transportation, water, sanitation, and electricity, exacerbating poverty and unemployment, safety concerns and rising crime rates, environmental pollution, health challenges, and mismanaged natural or human-induced disasters attributed to the impacts of climate change. There’s an imperative need for urban policies and strategies to adapt, transforming the surge in urbanization into opportunities for enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Welcoming UN-Habitat´s delegation from Nairobi, Kenya in Frankfurt
In Kenya, not only does 87.42% of the energy generated come from renewable resources, setting a precedent for numerous African nations, but the country also hosts the headquarters of the United Nations settlement program, UN-Habitat. This UN agency, mandated by the UN General Assembly, is dedicated to promoting socially and ecologically sustainable cities, aiming to enhance the quality of life for everyone in urban areas.
INGLOSUS Foundation was proud to advance the 17 SDGs within its core region, Frankfurt by hosting the honorable visit from UN-Habitat SDG Localization. The visit was spearheaded by Dr. Shipra Narang Suri, Chife of the Urban Practuces Branch, along with Martino Miraglia and Telman Maharramov. This occasion set the stage for Frankfurt to localize the SDGs and leverage its extensive network in Finance, Energy, Charity and much more.
The delegation visit commenced with a dynamic meeting alongside Gaby Hagmans, Director of Caritasverband Frankfurt, and Markus Eisele, from Diakonie Frankfurt & Offenbach. They showcased the extensive work focused on the Social Aspect of the Frankfurt Region. We extend our gratitude to these vital organizations for offering us insight into their operations.
We express our appreciation to our esteemed hosts during the delegation – the City of Frankfurt, Mayor Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg, and City Treasurer Dr. Bastian Bergerhoff. Their collaboration lays the groundwork for what could be the flagship event in Frankfurt. Additionally, we thank Sebastian Schütz, David Döhrmann, Robin Bohn, and the team at Deutsche Bundesbank for engaging in discussions about scaling Climate Risk in Monetary Policies for our joint initiative “SDGs & FRANKFURT.” A would also like to extend special acknowledgment to Markus H.-P. Müller for his time following a demanding week at COP28 UAE.
Our meeting at KfW, with Board Member Christian Krämer, alongside Helmut Schön, Boris Böttcher, and Angelika Zwicky, provided valuable insights into financing SDGs from a developmental perspective. This opportunity allows us to evaluate our collaboration within the Financial Hub of Frankfurt.
Our visit concluded with a collaborative presentation at Atelier Markgraph. Vanessa Beck and INGLOSUS´ vice-chairman Darius Maleki introduced our joint project, titled “SDG VILLAGE FRANKFURT,” focusing on localizing SDGs and breathing life into them for future generations. This endeavor lays the groundwork for Frankfurt’s 2030 agenda, rapidly approaching.
Frankfurt´s SDG vision for 2024
The global surge of urbanization demand immediate attention, innovative solutions and effective urban planning. The collective dedication showcased by organizations like UN-Habitat emphasize the transformative power of localized SDGs to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous urban future for all. Reflecting on these two days, INGLOSUS is delighted to share that our partnership with UN-Habitat SDG Localization has expanded, aligning with the vision for DIGISUSTAIN 2024 and the opportunity to host the UEFA EURO 2024 cup at the City Hall of Frankfurt.