Ahmedabad will showcase its unique urban development and climate change initiatives

Ahmedabad, a UNESCO World Heritage city, will host the Urban 20 (U20) cycle during India's year-long G20 presidency, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs announced on Tuesday.

Ahmedabad will organize various events along with C40 (Climate 40) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), two international non-governmental advocacy groups on urban issues,

This includes the first Sherpa meeting of the Urban 20 event which is scheduled to be held on February 9-10, 2023.

Ahmedabad will showcase its unique urban development and climate change initiatives and rich culture and heritage to the participants. Besides G20 countries, the Mayors and representatives of C40, UCLG member cities, and Observer Cities will participate in these events.

The priority areas for the Urban 20 event are:

• Encouraging environmentally responsive behaviour
• Ensuring water security
• Accelerating Climate Finance
• Leveraging ‘local’ potential and identity
• Reinventing urban governance and planning frameworks
• Catalysing digital urban futures

The Urban-20 (U20), one of the Engagement Groups of G20, provides a platform for cities from G20 countries to facilitate discussions on various important issues of urban development.

These include climate change, social inclusion, sustainable mobility, affordable housing, and financing of urban infrastructure and propose collective solutions.

This city diplomacy initiative facilitates a productive dialogue between the national and local governments and helps promote the importance of urban development issues in the G20 agenda.