Integrated and Balanced Territorial Development – the Added Value of Regional Governments towards the New Urban Agenda

Regional governments have the capacity to create and foster synergies that lead to the development of land management and urban policies. Indeed, with specific and vast competences on a broad range of areas required for the sustainability of territories, regions will be fundamental actors to ensure the success of the New Urban Agenda in the post-Habitat III scenario. In the framework of this side event, regional institutions from Latin America and Europe will showcase good practises that exemplify their role as crucial enablers for a holistic and integrated territorial approach. With this aim, the session will focus on two concrete and relevant areas of intervention that serve regional governments to address the complexity and diversity of territories. Firstly, policies of urban regeneration that intervene over consolidated city fabric are currently being implemented. Through recycling, refurbishment, transformation or endowment intervention tools, cities have the capacity to adapt to new needs. At the same time, they can evolve while reducing soil consumption, keeping their compactness, strengthening their socioeconomic mix and avoiding social segregation. In addition, the ecological footprint is reduced, leading to a more efficient and environmentally sustainable territory. Secondly, as the urbanization process does not end at urban boundaries, the interdependences and impacts of urban areas over rural, peri-urban and natural areas need to be taken into account. In this context, regional governments, as intermediate levels of governance, have vital competencies in assuring equitable and sustainable access and management of the resources, providing social security and services. At the same time, regions should foster the creation of bodies and institutional frameworks, based on coherence, coordination and cooperation to enable multi-level governance. Overall, the will is to share and discuss with attendees the role of regional governments in line with the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.