North America Women and Urban SDGs: An Urban Paradigm Shift Towards Gender Equality

Urban Thinkers Campus (The City We Need NOW!)

In early 2021, the Commonwealth Association of Planners and partners released the Call to Action on Sustainable Urbanization across the Commonwealth. The purpose of the Call to Action, and ongoing supporting initiatives, is to enable sustainable urbanization across the Commonwealth through practical common action, good governance, and equitable policy development.



The Commonwealth Association of Planners recognizes that the Call to Action, UN-Habitat’s Sustainable Development Goals, and the objectives of UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda cannot be achieved without the equity and inclusion of girls and women. We believe that holistic and global action must be taken to implement intersectional, gender-inclusive planning, policy, and design to contribute positively toward global economic, social, cultural, and environmental objectives, by creating a more equitable and inclusive built environment.

In 2018, the Commonwealth Association of Planners created and adopted the Commonwealth Women in Planning Network Manifesto. It was developed with the objective of advancing the role of women in the planning profession and highlighting the impact of planning and design on women’s safety, prosperity, and empowerment. It is an excellent example of a tool that the global professions can utilize, within their respective areas of expertise, as a first step in creating positive change for the equity and inclusion of girls and women.


In celebration of International Women’s Day and in partnership with the Urban Economy Forum, I am honoured to be the moderator of the World Urban Campaign’s Urban Thinkers Campus North America Women and Urban SDGs: An Urban Paradigm Shift Toward Gender Equality and Equity. It is a wonderful opportunity for brilliant women and allied men from across North America and the world to come together, share experiences, and to plan collective action.

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