By 2050, the United Nations estimates that two thirds of the planet’s inhabitants will live in urban areas. These areas are therefore key to tackling the global challenges we face, such as climate change, migration, urban growth and inequality, the consequences of which will determine the fate of billions living in our cities.
This is why over 2,000 politicians, academics and civil society representatives from 600 cities around the world have confirmed participation in the Brussels Urban Summit from 12-15 June, including more than 140 mayors from cities worldwide.
The Brussels Urban Summit, involving the biggest city networks, is uniquely suited to foster discussions about urban solutions to global challenges, concrete paths to their implementation and the critical role that cities will play in this journey.
The summit will bring together three international city conferences to discuss urban challenges and solutions: the triannual 14th Metropolis World Congress, the Eurocities Annual Conference and the 6th Meeting of the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative.
Summit participants include: Anne Hidalgo (Mayor of Paris), Barthélémy Toye Dias (Mayor of Dakar), Mansur Yavaş (Mayor of Ankara), Jaime Pumarejo (Mayor of Barranquilla), Asmaa Rhlalou (Mayor of Rabat), Balendra Shah (Mayor of Kathmandu), Emmanuel Serunjoji (Mayor of Kawempe, Kampala), Fabian Mayer (Mayor of Stuttgart), Sōichirō Takashima (Mayor of Fukuoka), Karin Wanngård (Mayor of Stockholm), Ricardo Rio (Mayor of Braga), Susan Aitken (Mayor of Glasgow), Kostas Bakoyannis (Mayor of Athens) and many more influential politicians.
In addition to plenary sessions, the programme of the summit includes meetings and workshops, power lunches, and site visits to allow participants to learn from one another and share their solutions to common challenges affecting cities worldwide, while engaging in genuine debate.
André Sobczak, Secretary General of Eurocities, said: “Many of Europe’s cities have been here for many centuries, if not millennia. The national governments and the European institutions are, so to speak, the new kids on the block. This may explain why our cities have the experience and the skills to find solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s global challenges. And this is why cities always put local people’s quality of life front and centre, and why they must have the respect of other levels of government and their rightful place at the table.”
Find out more information about the Brussels Urban Summit 2023.
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Notes to editors:
The Brussels Urban Summit is an initiative of the Brussels Capital Region, Eurocities, Metropolis and the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative.
In addition to these leading partners, the Summit counts among its partners: the City of Brussels, the European Commission, the United Cities and Local Governments, the Global Parliament of Mayors, and many others. The Press Club Brussels Europe and Politico are media partners of the Brussels Urban Summit.
For media accreditation for the summit, fill out the registration form.
Brussels Urban Summit’s main media partner, Press Club Brussels Europe, will provide journalists with a full–equipped recording studio with everything needed to produce high–quality recordings, interviews, and livestreaming events. At their media corner, journalists can broadcast high–class presentations and webcasts against a custom backdrop. Book a slot by contacting contact@pressclub.be.
Media contacts:
Eurocities: Daniela Berretta daniela.berretta@eurocities.eu // +32 492 3617 16
Press Club Brussels: contact@pressclub.be
Brussels Capital Region: Damiaan De Jonge ddejonge@gov.brussels // +32 486 610 036
Metropolis: Caitlin Law claw@metropolis.org // +34 611 696 508
OECD: Shayne MacLachlan Shayne.maclachlan@oecd.org
