The Global Planners Network is a plurality of voices with diverse and relevant experience to advocate for effective planning. Member organizations work to advance inclusionary and sustainable planning practice worldwide.

GPN Partners at World Urban Forum 9

Since World Urban Forum 3 at Vancouver in 2006, partners in the Global Planners Network have added content and a voice for planning to these important biennial events. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is hosting the 9th version of the Forum, February 7–13, 2018, with more than 20,000 attendees from all around the globe.

CAPTION: At World Urban Forum 9, from left, Eleanor Mohammed, president of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP); Dy Currie, president of the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP); John Acres, president of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI); and Ric Stevens, vice chair of APA's International Division and president of ISOCARP.
At World Urban Forum 9, from left, Eleanor Mohammed, president of the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP); Dy Currie, president of the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP); John Acres, president of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI); and Ric Stevens, vice chair of APA’s International Division and president of ISOCARP.

The focus of this WUF is the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, adopted by all the countries of the world in Quito, Ecuador in 2016. Among the examples of implementation in the U.S. are Baltimore and New York, which are already incorporating the Urban and Community Goal and indicators and these cities were highlighted at the New York NPC session on this topic.

Members of Global Planners Network in attendance include APA, the Canadian Institute of Planners, the Royal Town Planning Institute, Commonwealth Association of Planners, Planning Institute of Australia, the International Society of City and Regional Planners, the International Federation of Housing and Planning, the New Zealand Institute of Planners, and Renaissance Urban of France.

Global Planners Network Session

Global Planners Network was successful in submitting a networking session on the topic of Good Governance and Good Planning, offering insights into the key role of planning in good governance. The Quito Implementation Plan for the New Urban Agenda (NUA) states three priorities that lead to sustainable urbanization: a supportive governance structure, 21st century urban planning, and establishing sound financing mechanisms.

This networking session demonstrated specific ways planning increases transparency; improves government integration; and creates a platform for public, private, and NGO collaboration. Often the barrier to healthy and inclusive communities is social and political. Engaging citizens and stakeholders in the planning process ties good governance to the outcomes of planning and the NUA.

GPN members highlighted the important linkage among statutes, incentives, and government structure in making planning work for everyone. Case examples from Brisbane, Australia, to Beaumont, Canada, gave the audience a great cross section of practical ideas to better serve our communities.

Additional GPN Participation

In addition, GPN members participated in over a dozen other sessions as panelists presenting on topics such as community engagement, TOD, density bonuses, cultural heritage conservation, cultural mapping, and green space networks.

GPN also was part of the launch of Planners for Climate Action, coming together as a new cooperative initiative under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Marrakesh Partnership for Global Climate Action. The new initiative was publicly launched on Human Settlements Day (November 11, 2017) at the 23rd Conference of Parties (COP-23) to the UNFCCC in Bonn, and the group met and hosted several session at WUF9.

We also engaged with ICOMOS in promoting the value of cultural heritage as a framework for more livable cities. A session highlighting the importance of cultural heritage in planning was held in cooperation with a local Malaysian partner, Think City. Ege Yildirim, the ICOMOS Focal Point on the Sustainable Development Goals joined many of the GPN meetings and events.

Please contact Jeff Soule at jsoule@planning.org for more information.