VMR - Voluntary Metropolitan Review

IIAS/DARPG Conference, 11 February 2025

Session Chair: Raymond Saner, Basle University & CSEND, Geneva, Switzerland

Stronger Together Voluntary Metropolitan Coordination Across Local Boundaries on SDGs and Governance - Cases from Europe and Asia

Are there any models and mechanisms for effective planning and governance coordination within metropolitan and mega-urban regions? How can the rapid growth of urban areas be guided toward sustainability in Asia, Africa, and South America? Can urban regions be planned and governed in coordination across local administrative boundaries, including land- and resource-efficient, low-carbon, climate-resilient, inclusive, and competitive urban development in a country and in growing urban regions?

November 7, 2024 | 15:00 - 16:30, SDGs in Action

Summary
Are there any models and mechanisms for effective coordination within metropolitan and mega-urban regions on planning and governance? How can rapid growth of urban regions be guided towards sustainability in Asia, Africa and South America? Can urban regions be planned and governed in coordination across local administrative boundaries, inclusive of land- and resource efficient, low-carbon, climate-resilient, inclusive and competitive urban development in a country and in growing urban regions? How can effective models be replicated?

Urbanization often is not well managed and urban development goes in many or most cases well beyond the territories of local city administrations. This happens for small and medium cities, and it is normal for metropolitan and mega-urban regions. These ‘natural cities’ don’t have administration and coordination which makes effective land use planning, effective and efficient infrastructure and service provision, and risk- informed planning to minimize and manage climate-related disasters very challenging. Coordinating and integrating master planning, land use, transport and open space protection planning will result in synergies and benefits for all areas, jurisdictions and residents. There are cases in which such coordination is practiced and in various forms of mechanisms and institutional and governance arrangements. Various models of successful national planning and urban region coordination will be shared, including top-down and voluntary approaches. Agreeing on achieving SDGs can be an incentive to coordinate across local jurisdictions.