Ahmedabad, a city in the Indian state of Gujarat, is set to host the Urban20 (U20) Mayoral Summit on July 7-8, bringing together city leaders and mayors from across G20 nations. The U20 is an Engagement Group under India’s G20 presidency, aimed at emphasising the role of cities in taking forward the global agenda for sustainable development through collaboration among cities. Ahmedabad is the U20 Chair for the sixth cycle, while the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is the Technical Secretariat and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is the nodal ministry.
More than 20 mayors from across the world and about 25 mayors from cities in India will be sharing their experiences of their respective city-level actions and initiatives at the summit. Additionally, there will be four thematic sessions focusing on U20 priorities, with six white papers released by the dignitaries on the six U20 priorities. The summit will also have an exclusive session on climate finance round tables for mayors.
The event will host an exhibition showcasing India’s urban story, including city-level successes, notable projects, and innovative initiatives, with spotlight sessions scheduled to focus on aspects of urban resilience, city readiness for investments, inclusion, circular economy, and data-driven governance. The exhibition will also include a screening of select films to help raise awareness about climate change’s multifaceted impacts on urban areas and vice versa.
As part of the Mayoral Summit, participating mayors and delegates will be given city excursions to Ahmedabad’s historic streets and monuments and introduced to the city’s vibrant culture. Mayors will also be planting trees at the U20 Udyan and visit the Sabarmati Ashram. The event will conclude with cultural programmes and experiences showcasing Gujarat’s and India’s rich cultural heritage.
The summit is significant in highlighting the importance of cities in achieving sustainable development goals and the need for intercity collaboration towards this end. It also provides a platform for city leaders to exchange ideas, experiences, and initiatives and a showcase for India’s urban story.
