A record number of mayors and city leaders on Friday gave their backing to the U20 Communique calling on the world’s greatest economic powers to invest in sustainable urbanisation and fight the “climate emergency”.
The leaders of 39 cities including Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Buenos Aires, London, Seoul and Tokyo endorsed the 27-point document.
The three-day Urban 20 Summit, due to take place between September 30 and October 2, is being organised as part of the G20 summit which Saudi Arabia is set to hold in November.
The U20 conference is slated to host mayors of major global cities.
The Communiqué also includes an impassioned call for the G20 to commit and respond “immediately to the climate emergency” by substantially reducing greenhouse gas emissions to deliver the 50 per cent global reduction required by 2030, and “reach carbon neutrality no later than 2050”.
The summit’s organisers say the document is the culmination of more than 1,000 pages of research, drafted by three U20 taskforces over more than nine months of collaboration. The 27 policy recommendations contained within are part of a drive to achieve carbon-neutral cities in the near future.
After the text was officially presented to the G20, the U20’s Chair, Fahd Al Rasheed, said: “Handing over the Communique to the G20 today and reflecting on what we’ve achieved in the past year, I feel a great sense of hope and anticipation that the work we’ve put can make a real difference in the days ahead.”
Mr Al Rasheed said it was “a testament to this diverse and inclusive global group of U20 leaders” that they were able to rise to the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.
UN Habitat Executive Director Maimunah Sharif thanked Saudi Arabia for its efforts in organising the summit, which is being hosted remotely from Riyadh.
“I would like to thank the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and our generous host, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City for the huge efforts made to organize the U20 as part of the Chairmanship of Saudi Arabia to the G20 in 2020,” he said.
The first U20 summit was held in 2018. It takes place in the country that is hosting the annual G20 summit.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
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WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
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The biog
Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling
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The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
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