City leaders, policymakers, and urban experts from the Asia-Pacific region convene at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok for the High-Level Policy Dialogue on “Leadership for the Future: Enhancing Urban Governance Practices for Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Cities.” Co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the event focuses on strategies to address the region’s rapid urbanization, climate change impacts, and governance challenges, with the goal of building resilient, equitable, and future-ready cities. 

Asia-Pacific is home to 54% of the world’s urban population, with 2.3 billion people currently residing in cities. By 2050, this figure is expected to rise to 3.5 billion, intensifying the need for visionary leadership to address the challenges of sustainable urban growth, social equity, and resilience to climate impacts. This rapid urban expansion presents not only risks but also a unique opportunity for city leaders to drive transformational change, shaping cities that prioritize the well-being of all residents, particularly marginalized communities, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preventing structural inequality and environmental degradation. 

“As cities grow, bold and innovative leadership is crucial to adopting governance practices that ensure urban areas are sustainable, resilient, and equitable for all,” said Diana Torres, Regional Governance Advisor, UNDP. “This dialogue seeks to inspire forward-thinking leadership and foster collaborative strategies to ensure cities are prepared for future challenges, with a focus on inclusivity and impactful local action.” 

The dialogue centers around three critical themes: 

1. Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Leadership: Focusing on the role of leadership in creating a shared vision for cities that integrate resilience to various challenges while addressing social equity, especially for vulnerable populations. 
2. Multi-Level Governance and Whole-of-Government Approaches: Exploring collaboration among different levels of government and stakeholders to develop inclusive and participatory governance models that address the complex and interconnected challenges of rapid urbanization. 
3. Anticipatory and Agile Governance: Highlighting how cities can leverage data, digital tools, and innovative policies to create governance systems that anticipate and adapt to future urban challenges. 

The high-level dialogue aims to guide the ESCAP Committee on Environment and Development (16-18 October 2024), advancing the ongoing discussions on sustainable urban governance and its integration into regional development strategies. The conversations also aim to contribute to the World Urban Forum (WUF12) organized by UN Habitat in Cairo this November, where Asia-Pacific urban leaders will build on these insights to form policy and action into resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities. This High-Level Dialogue elevates the ongoing regional and global dialogues aimed at redefining urban governance.

Media contact 
Cedric Monteiro, Regional Communications Advisor, UNDP Asia and the Pacific Regional Bureau, Bangkok, Thailand: cedric.monteiro@undp.org