The World Urban Forum (WUF) is recognised worldwide as the foremost global arena for interaction among key high-level policy makers, local government leaders, NGOs and stakeholders to discuss global urbanisation challenges and solutions.
- 10 June 2022
This year’s – eleventh – session of the World Urban Forum will take place in Katowice, Poland. In order to present European perspective, within the WUF11 programme there will be a special block of events called the European Track. It will be dedicated to the European dimension of sustainable urban development and a just transformation of cities in the context of global challenges. The block of events includes number of thematic sessions of 90 minutes, which will be hosted by leading institutions from European countries. Additionally, there will be 10 poster sessions - dedicated mainly to the academic and local governmental environment. Further information on WUF11 and the European Track events comprised under this block can be found here. They deal with 4 themes in particular: Green City, Equitable and Inclusive, Sustainable Urban Mobility, Affordable Housing.
While the European Track will be organized by the Polish Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy as well as the Institute of Urban and Regional Development, the European Commission acts as a partner as part of this process in order to highlight the European dimension of the Forum and to provide additional content to enrich discussion among stakeholders on various priority areas.
As part of a dedicated building block of the European Track, the series of 14 events organised or co-organised by the European Commission aims to highlight the EU approach towards integrated sustainable urban development through various dimensions. They will complement other European track sessions and thematic areas by showcasing key priorities for supporting cities and urban development actors in taking forwards the green, digital and just transition in urban areas, while using common sustainability principles and requirements for integrated development.
Among events organised by the European Commission and its partners, there will be sessions focusing on:
- key principles such as citizens’ engagement
- strategic areas including economic, social and territorial Cohesion, climate neutrality and innovation as well as digital transition
- tools and methods
- external partnerships
The series of events organised by the European Commission within the European Track emphasizes key building blocks of the EU approach to support sustainable urban development, articulating both different thematic and strategic areas as well as practices, tools, and methodologies to support cities and urban actors in their transformation for a more sustainable urban future, within the EU and beyond.