Urban 20
Joint Statement
To the Group of 20 (G20):
We, the mayors of the undersigned cities, come together as Urban 20 (U20) to commit to actively engage
with the G20 process and to take action in our cities to respond to existing and future global challenges. We
hereby call on the leaders of the G20 to consider our experience and contributions as we explore policies
for a better world, together.
Cities are major economic, innovation and demographic hubs: worldwide, they represent 54% 1 of the population andproduce more than 80% 2 of global GDP. Globally, cities are responsible for more than 70% of global energy -relat ed
carbon dioxide emissions 3. Diversity, creativity, solidarity and inclusive forms of democracy also flourish in cities,
proving that although the challenges faced by cities are great, their individual and common capacity to incubate
solutions and yield a better future for all is greater.
The profound transformations generated by globalization, urbanization and digital innovation hold the potential toboost large-scale well-being, resource efficiency and economic growth. However, leveraging these opportunities canbe challenging unless cities are part of the conversation. In these trying times for international cooperation, U20 canharness the experience of successful city mobilization in global processes . It builds on the successful engagementof cities in the discussions on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 2030 Sustainable Development
Agenda and Habitat III, facilitated by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) through the Global Task Forceof Local and Regional Governments, as well as on the role played by the Local Governments and Municipal
Authorities Constituency in the adoption and implementation of the Paris Agreement.
U20 is proposed by the Mayors of Buenos Aires and Paris, convened by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group incollaboration with UCLG, and readily supported by 25 cities. It seeks to highlight the expertise of cities in a range ofglobal development issues, to contribute solutions to the G20 and to formulate clear recommendations to our national
leaders. Since few policies are created or executed at a single level of government, we affirm that our intention topromote dialogue between cities and the national governments within the G20 is both necessary and opportune.
The U20 effort will address several global challenges reflected in the theme for Argentina’s G20 Presidency: "Building
Consensus for Fair and Sustainable Development”, including climate change, the future of work, and social
integration and inclusion, as well as the broader issues of equality, prosperity and well -being.
To this end, the cities that comprise U20 are committed to:● Contributing their unique perspectives and best practices to the G20 agenda on relevant urban issues;● Proposing joint solutions and experience-based recommendations to enhance and achieve the objectivesof the G20 agenda;● Promoting dialogue and cooperation between G20 nations and cities through a regular effort; and● Delivering detailed recommended actions to achieve the priority areas of U20.
We hope that the 2018 U20 process encapsulated in this joint statement will inaugurate an ongoing practice ofengagement between cities and the G20 and emphasize our unique role in the global agenda. We stand ready towork constructively and collaboratively with G20 leaders to find solutions for our common global challenges. Our
joint position on the priorities of the 2018 G20 Presidency is detailed below.

1 The World Bank (2018). "Urban Development. Overview" [online] [Accessed March 5, 2018]
2 Ibid.
3 UN Habitat (2011). "Global Report on Human Settlements 2011: Cities and Climate Change". United Nations Human Settlements Program,

Earthscan

U20 priorities during the 2018 G20 Presidency
Summary
Climate action: building sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities
1
2

Develop national and local strategies and plans for the rapid and effective implementation of global
urban and climate frameworks.
Improve access to finance for cities from diverse sources (public, private, multilateral and developmentbanks).

3

Decarbonize the energy grid at the national and local levels by 2050.

4

Increase the availability and transparency of data to support accountability, decision-making and longterm planning.

5

Support the implementation of the global research agenda on cities and climate change .

6Reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience at the city level.

The future of work: preparing citizens for a shift in the labor market
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Empower citizens and workers with the skills needed for future labor markets and solutions to bridge thedigital divide.
Distribute equitably the opportunities for economic growth and job creation of a just transition to a lowcarbon and resilient economy.
Mitigate the negative effects of the decline in manufacturing and production of goods and the loss of jobs
in the shift to services and knowledge -based economies.
Address unemployment and underemployment, including through access to financial services.
Optimize the opportunities and address the challenges that may be generated by the sharing and gig
economies.
Ensure the safety and integrity of networks and platforms that provide the digital infrastructure for manyjobs in the digital economy.
Achieve more compact and better connected cities to maximize access to employment and business to-business connections.
Encourage the formalization of informal jobs, while also recognizing their existence and societal
benefits.

Social integration and inclusion: delivering opportunities, safety and equality for all1

Support fair and inclusive labor markets and services, including quality, affordable education andhealthcare (including mental healthcare), and social mobility.

2

Develop and implement strategies and policies that support infrastructure for development (housing,transport, sustainable land use), enhancing access to subnational financing.

3

Pursue gender equality and consequently, poverty eradication and inclusive growth.

45Develop and implement just and inclusive long-term climate strategies to reinforce resilience, social
integration and inclusion.
Support integration in activities at the workplace, leisure and community centers, school and child caresettings.

6

Implement violence prevention programs.

7

Foster citizen empowerment through the development of participatory planning and processes.

Climate action: building sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities
Climate change is a challenge for cities around the world: cities consume over 75% of the world’s energy and morethan 70% of them declare that they are already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change. However, ourexperience proves that effective solutions can be implemented at the municipal level to address climate change.
As Mayors we are committed to delivering ambitious and inclusive climate strategies to decarbonize the electricity
grid, optimize energy efficiency in buildings, enable next-generation mobility, and improve waste management andintegrated food systems. We are also committed to reinforcing our cities’ resilience, disaster preparedness andcapacity to adapt to climate-related impacts and implementing effective response, recovery, rehabilitation andreconstruction strategies. We know these strategies will help mitigate the impacts of climate change and drive
economic growth, competitiveness, innovation and job creation whilst improving the well -being of our residents andmaking our cities safer, healthier, and more equitable for all. In 2017, 67 cities signed the Chicago Climate Charterat the North American Climate Summit committing themselves to emissions reductions equal to or greater than thoserequired of their nations by the Paris Agreement. Another 25 pioneering cities committed to becoming emissions
neutral by 2050 to deliver on their share of the Paris Agreement and the 7,500 signatories of the Global Covenantof Mayors for Climate and Energy have also committed to ambitious emissions reductions.
The actions of cities should therefore give confidence to G20 leaders that national governments can increase theirpre-2020 ambitions, starting with the ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, revise and enhanc e
their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through collaborative processes that include cities and that theymust develop and implement national long-term, net zero-GHG and climate-resilient strategies by 2050 to ensurethat global emissions trajectories and climate preparedness are consistent with the long-term objectives of the Paris
Agreement. Finally, G20 leaders should enhance financing and partnership for climate action.
To collectively achieve these goals, we call on G20 leaders to work with us on:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Developing strategies and policy frameworks to support the full and rapid implementation of the Paris
Agreement before 2020, in accordance with the G20 Hamburg Climate and Energy Action Plan for Growth,
including, but not limited to, enhanced and integrated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) thatreflect and support urban contributions, 2050 decarbonization strategies at all levels of government, andnational urban policies that recognize cities as integral actors in national development agendas;
Improving access to financing for cities by creating predictable national fiscal and investment frameworks ,increasing financial contributions to the Green Climate Fund to achieve $100 billion/year by 2020, scaling
and shifting infrastructure funds, creating new financing vehicles for cities, and easing the conditions toaccess financing from sovereign funds, Multilateral Development Banks and other public and privat esources, particularly in Global South cities, for long-term low-carbon, resilience and adaptation strategies aswell as sustainable urban infrastructure and transport;
Working closely with local and regional governments, the private sector, and other key stakeholders todecarbonize the energy grid at the national, regional and local level by 2050, including through, equitable
and accessible national policies for energy efficiency, the efficient use of land, land value capture
mechanisms (where appropriate) and the reduction or removal of perverse incentives to unsustainable urban
development including fossil fuel subsidies;
Increasing the availability and transparency of data, especially on the wider benefits of climate action suchas health, jobs and growth opportunities of the emerging green economy, to support accountability, decision making and long-term planning, while ensuring a high level of data protection and privacy;
Encouraging and supporting research and generation of knowledge on cities and climate change in G20
countries, in line with the global research agenda on cities and c limate change prepared by theIntergovernment al Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018, to improve our understanding of climate threats
and solutions at the urban level, and encourage science-based and evidence-based climate action in cities;
Reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience - with particular consideration for the impact of climatechange on women and the urban poor - by enhancing climate change adaptation in cities and fostering theimplementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 2030 Sustainable Development
Agenda and the New Urban Agenda at the city level.

The future of work: preparing citizens for a shift in the labor market
Automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning, gig and sharing economies and other technologicaladvances are disrupting the nature of work in our cities. Understanding and responding to these shifts will beessential in determining the nature and quality of 21 st century jobs and addressing inequality in our cities. While
digitization will create new industries and employment opportunities, these shifts also often create challenges foryoung people, the elderly, women, people living with disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Cities form a partof residents’ everyday lives, and we can help generate tailored and innovative solutions to the challenges andopportunities stemming from increasing digitization.
As centers of productivity and innovation, cities are the key sites of this economic transformation and will play acentral role in developing decent work and productive livelihoods in our interconnected world. We are committed toworking with partners in civil society, the private sector, secondary cit ies and rural communities to shape an equitable
future of work for our citizens. In doing this, we will focus on harnessing new technologies to close the digital divideand ensure greater social inclusion.
Cities are engines of economic growth that are affected by macroeconomic forces and structural economic shifts.
As such, and in order to help fulfill equitable distribution of benefits produced by technological advances, we call on
G20 leaders to work with us on:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.
7.

8.

Developing education, economic and fiscal policies, and training programs that empower citizens andworkers with the skills needed for future labor markets , as well as solutions to bridge the digital divide (aresult of gender, age, disability, spatial or resource inequalities , among others) in order build a sustainableeconomy (through the creation of sustainable jobs), reduce inequalities, achieve diversity and foster social
inclusion through work opportunities;
Facilitating through local and national policies a just transition enhancing an equitable distribution of newjobs and a renewed social dialogue between workers, communities, employers, civil society, cities, regionaland national governments whilst fully seizing the opportunities for economic growth and job creation of thetransition to a low-carbon and resilient economy, energy efficient technologies and innovation;
Mitigating the negative effects of the decline in manufacturing and production of goods and the shift toservices and knowledge-based economies, and the consequent loss of lower- and middle-income jobs atthe profit of skills-based, technology-intensive and labor-saving jobs, particularly in Global South cities withlarge populations;
Working to address unemployment and underemployment through development -oriented policies that
support local manufacturing and entrepreneurship, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-,small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the social and solidarity economies, including through access tofinancial services;
Developing solutions to optimize the opportunities and address the challenges that may be generated by thesharing and gig economies, which may include new social protection programs and encouraging new
employer-employee relationships;
Working with cities to ensure the safety and integrity of networks and platforms that provide the digital
infrastructure for many jobs in the digital economy;
Encouraging the use of rapid transit to achieve more compact and better connected cities, maximizing
access to employment, but also supporting the business-to-business connections that will underpin theeconomies of the future;
Recognizing the existence and societal benefits of informal jobs, particularly in Global South cities, while
also encouraging their formalization.

Social integration and inclusion: delivering opportunities, safety and equality for all
Our cities are characterized by economic, cultural, religious and other aspects of social diversity . However, diversit yand proximity of citizens alone do not guarantee the sustained inclusion and economic prosperity of all, particularlyof women, the elderly, people living with disabilities, young people, migrants, the LGBTQ community or other sociallyand economically vulnerable groups. Governments at all levels must work together to encourage inclusive growth:
creating opportunity for all segments of the population and distributing the dividends of increased prosperity, both inmonetary and non-monetary terms, fairly across society. This can be achieved by encouraging gender
empowerment, solidarity, social integration and inclusion to foster and support the cultural, social and economic
benefits of a truly inclusive and culturally diverse society. Cities are collectively and individually pursuing this goal to
make our societies more stable, safe, just and tolerant, and respect diversity, equality of opportunity and participationof all people. The New Urban Agenda adopted in Quito recognizes a prominent role for local governments both asproponents and implementers of sustainable and inclusive urbanization.
U20 is guided by the notion that living together is critical to building a safer, more stable and just society for all andour cities recognize that social cohesion and inclusive growth do not simply happen organically but must be
encouraged through explicit public policies and targeted investments. Local policymakers have a responsibility to
implement policies that boost economic and social opportunities for all residents and promote diversity in economic
and social life, and the integration of new and long-established residents alike, including migrants and refugees. Thisis especially important given the economic benefits of diverse and vibrant societi es and current trends indicating thatcities become more unequal as they grow. National and municipal governments must respond to demographic trends
and their effect on cities, taking into account the diverse range of scenarios across U20 members, which include but
are not limited to immigration, birthrate shifts and aging populations.
This century has been characterized by rapid urbanization and the growing impact of global phenomena such as
migration, digitization, climate change, energy and clean water shortages, economic crisis, and rising inequality. In
light of these trends, we call on G20 leaders to support social integration and inclusion in cities by:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
6.

7.
8.

Supporting fair and inclusive labor markets, access to quality and affordable education and healt hcare(including mental healthcare) and improved social mobility as vehicles for urban resilience and prosperity;
Developing and implementing integrated urban strategies and policies and enhancing access to subnational
financing to promote infrastructure for development, including safe, adequate and social housing,sustainable land use and quality public services such as transport to minimize the effects of spatial andeconomic inequalities that contribute to social exclusion;
Pursuing public policies geared towards gender equality and consequently, poverty eradication and inclusive
growth; allowing women to contribute to and benefit from growth processes in ways that recognize the valueof their contributions, respect their dignity and make it possible to negotiate a fairer distribution of the benefitsof growth;
Developing and implementing just and inclusive long-term climate, adaptation and sustainable development
strategies - that include nationally consistent energy and climate policies - to reinforce resilience, social
integration and inclusion and share the economic opportunities, health benefits and distributional impacts ofclimate action;
Implementing smart city solutions, including improving access to quality sustainable public services andworking to increase opportunities for entrepreneurship to play central roles in achieving these goals;
Supporting integration in residents’ day-to-day activities at the workplace, leisure and community centers,
as well as school and childcare settings, particularly fostered early on by educational institutions as thoseoften determine the composition of social networks during adulthood;
Implementing violence prevention programs to ensure that citizens are free from threats of crime, violenc e
and conflict, and feel safe in both public and private spaces;
Fostering the development of participatory planning and processes, whereby communities are empoweredto play a key role in designing and delivering inclusive cities, also increasing transparency and produc tion ofreliable data.

Global cities must be central to the discussions that shape the global economic and development agenda. As such,
we, the undersigned, urge you to consider our unique urban contributions and the priorities highlighted inthis Joint Statement at the 2018 G20 Summit and beyond. Moving forward, U20 will share further contributions
laying out how to achieve our common goals and detailing our recommendations to G20 leaders, as we reiterate ourreadiness to work with our national leaders.
We look forward to future dialogue and cooperation to achieve our shared objectives.
Yours sincerely,

Anne Hidalgo
Mayor of Paris

Horacio Rodríguez Larreta
Mayor of Buenos Aires

Katharina Fegebank
Acting Mayor of Hamburg

Gumede Zandile
Mayor of Durban

Miguel Mancera
Mayor of Mexico CityJoão Doria
Mayor of São Paulo

Virginia Raggi
Mayor of Rome

Giuseppe Sala
Mayor of Milan

Park Won-soon
Mayor of Seoul

Clover Moore
Lord Mayor of Sydney

Yuriko Koike
Governor of Tokyo

Solly Msimanga
Executive Mayor of Tshwane

Bill de Blasio
Mayor of New York

Marcello Crivella
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro

Valérie Plante
Mayor of Montréal

Manuela Carmena
Mayor of Madrid

Anies Baswedan
Governor of Jakarta

Michael Müller
Governing Mayor of Berlin

Sadiq Khan
Mayor of London

Rahm EmanuelMayor of Chicago