The world is facing many challenges: climate change, pollution in our oceans and waterways, rising inequalities, urban sprawl, and many other threats to our quality of life. These are not just problems for one country or one city but are challenges for all of humanity. It is a serious challenge for all our habitats and our environment; from small settlements to metropolitan cities. No human habitat can say it is a in a safe area and unaffected by climate change.  

On the other hand, we’ve recently had a great achievement – the internet. It is a very fast and efficient communication tool that acts like a global public broadcasting system for the world. Everyone can share anything and has been an amazing invention that has increased the level of democracy. The internet has helped the world to experience very rapid social transformation and fundamental changes in our behaviour. 
Humans’ actions and behaviors have intended and often unintended consequences. The implications of a wrong decision by one can create impacts for all. If a country has leaders who make mistakes in their management style, or management of the economy or the environment the impact can be felt at times on the entire world population.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. This agenda, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals, is aimed at achieving peace and prosperity for all people and our planet, for now and into the future. In 2015, the member states collectively promised each other, and the governments promised each other, to realize 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets over the next 15 years. This is a governmental promise. 

But who will and who will want to realize this? We have already passed 5 years since the adoption of the 2015 agenda, and we believe the achievement so far has not been that much. We need to rethink our actions. We need to change our strategy. And we need to come together and rededicate ourselves with a new sense of unity to establish a world movement where sustainable development is our priority.

We believe Towns and cities are important as natural habitat for human beings. When it comes to the SDGs, it is clear that not all towns have the same resources, possibilities or can work at the same pace.

Some are more ambitious, and some are more innovative. The pioneer towns in sustainable urban development will push and lead this Agenda and provide an example for towns in need of support. Hence, we believe we need to create a campaign with a specific audience at each scale. We are now creating an initiative that includes world’s town leaders.

Therefore, we are launching “Habitat in Towns: Collingwood World Summit” on the occasion of World Habitat Day to create a campaign for towns and municipalities to exchange best practices and create achievable targets for the future. Towns can learn from each other, both failures and successes, and provide a venue for international dialogue for the realization of SDGs.

We are honoured to invite all the mayors and town leaders of the world to come together to the first annual summit in the Town of Collingwood to share their valuable experience with their colleagues. We hope this will lay a foundation for the future summits, to enhance cultural exchange and strengthen inter-town relationships. Towns may even become ‘Town-mates’ with each other that could help in their quest for urban harmony and economic prosperity.

Our vision for this important initiative is that in several years from now, mayors and towns will approach to the central governments to get more resources based on the resolutions agreed upon at the Habitat in Towns: Collingwood World Summit and will be internationally agreed upon. The resolutions will help to create a strong global network for mayors of towns to realize Sustainable Development Goals.

Through this initiative, Collingwood will have an international stature on the world map for leading the realization of SDGs.

The Town of Collingwood is a beautiful place located at the base of the Niagara Escarpment between the hills of Blue Mountains and the shores of Georgian Bay where four significant watersheds empty into the Collingwood Harbour. It is a place where the abundance of nature is accessible and on display all year round making it a recreational playground for local residents and tourists. Collingwood’s picturesque downtown offers a historic and rustic experience as you walk through the Town’s core. Collingwood understands and appreciates the importance of its location and natural assets and is working hard to be a leader in sustainable development making it a great place to host this international summit. Collingwood recognizes the challenges of sustainable development in all its forms, social, economic and environmental, and is honoured to host Habitat in Towns: Collingwood World Summit.

Share by: