JAKARTA, JAKTIMES.COM- the U20 Communique (Joint Statement) was handed over by the city leaders who attended the U20 Mayors Summit to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs representing the G20 Presidency of Indonesia. This year, Indonesia acted as the chair of the G20 Presidency for 2022, while the U20 is an engagement group of the G20, representing the cities (31/8).
These U20 city leaders declared an official statement signed (U20 Communique) by representatives from 44 cities. City leaders also outlined a vision to work closely with G20 leaders at the Urban 20 Mayors Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia. These actions are expected to help overcome the climate crisis; and promote a sense of social cohesion and equality.
“Inequality is not only increasing between countries but also within cities. Cities are capable of advancing uniquely inclusive and equitable solutions, and innovative breakthroughs in the face of global challenges. In the spirit of collaboration with the central government and the G20, from Jakarta we want to highlight the relevance of Urban 20’s contribution in ensuring that we recover together and stronger from the ground up,” said DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan.
At the U20 Mayor Summit 2022 held in Jakarta on 29-31 August 2022, under the leadership of the Governor of Jakarta and the Governor of West Java, these U20 city leaders also exchanged good practices and discussed solutions to achieve sustainable economic and social recovery for all.
The meeting, which was held in a hybrid format, brought together city leaders from every continent. A number of representatives from 12 participating cities and 15 observer cities attended in person in Jakarta. Meanwhile, representatives from 10 participating cities and 2 observer cities joined virtually. The Summit ended with the signing of the official statement of the U20, to be presented to the G20 Presidency of Indonesia.
“We have just finished the U20 Summit and the atmosphere during the summit is an atmosphere of friendship; we are close friends, the conversations brings up heavy themes but the atmosphere is very warm and fluid; and while they are in Jakarta they have the opportunity to experience this city,” said Governor Anies.
In the official statement, city leaders encourage concrete movements to promote affordable housing, spur a renewable energy transition that supports equal access to sustainable mobility, invest in mental health and pandemic resilience programs, and ensure equitable access to employment opportunities, by investing in education and long-term training on the future of employment.
Regarding the results of the Communique, those have been conveyed to the G20 presidency through the Coordinating Minister for the Economic Affairs, which underlines 3 important things, including investing in health and public housing as part of a just economic and social recovery; facilitating the transition to sustainable energy and the need for equal access for sustainable mobility; and preparing of education and training so that everyone gets equitable opportunities to work,” said Governor Anies.
City leaders representing the world’s largest economies today call on the G20 to take concrete action to accelerate sustainable economic and social recovery for all through (i) investing in health and housing as a cornerstone to an economic and social recovery for all, (ii) foster a sustainable energy transition and equal access to sustainable mobility, and (iii) provide education and training on the future of work to give all people equitable access to the job market.
The city leaders also implore the G20 leaders to stay focused on collaboratively realizing the Paris Agreement, New Urban Agenda, and the 2030 Agenda, while supporting efforts to make global goals achievable in the local sphere.
Meanwhile, the Governor of West Java, Ridwan Kamil, explained that the U20 Mayors Summit is an entity which is ready to execute the big ideas which will be formulated in the G20 in November 2022.
“So the main point at the G20 in Bali is that cities as entities are at a level which is ready to execute ideas usually expressed as grand narratives at the national level. However, the means to implement it lies at the U20 level, because cities have the preparedness to carry out the plan of action,” explained Governor Ridwan Kamil.
In connection with the G20 meeting in Bali which will be held on 15-16 November 2022, the U20 member cities beseech the leaders of the G20 countries to promote world peace and global development, as well as establish inter-city cooperation, towards the expected post-pandemic period, which is more equitable, sustainable, resilient and beneficial to all parties. A future in which all backgrounds, genders, or socio-economic statuses are afforded equitable opportunities.
“On behalf of the President, I accept this communique, and I thank you for the results, and in the next 1-2 months we will discuss it in several meetings, which we hope can be delivered at the summit (G20) later,” said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartanto.
To that end, the U20 member cities specifically call for action in the following three main areas:
1. Health and housing investment, as a basis for economic and social recovery for all in the
form of:
? Improving health systems to increase resilience to future pandemics and crises.
? Increasing public investment to raise mental health awareness, combat stigma, and expand mental health services.
? Collaborating with the world’s cities to address structural inequalities and invest in social justice and territorial cohesion.
? Promoting healthy, affordable, accessible and sustainable housing by recognizing the right to shelter and improving access.
? Promoting regulations which support harmonious land use and facilitate more cohesive, integrated, multi-purpose and transit-oriented zones.
2. Fostering the transition to sustainable energy, and equal access to sustainable mobility
? Committing to a global and rapid cessation of fossil fuel use, publish a clear and binding Energy Transition Roadmap, in line with limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C and create an enabling national framework to support and accelerate the renewable energy transition, with the aim of achieve zero carbon emissions by the 2040s or sooner.
? Encourage public investment both from abroad and domestic to finance the energy transition at the local level.
? Overcome systemic, technological and financial barriers and limitations of renewable energy and energy efficiency for residential, commercial and industrial users, to help amplify the needs of the energy transition.
? Prioritize measures and investments that can increase mobility in urban areas by means of public transport, walking and cycling and reducing the use of private cars
3. Provide education and training on the future of employment to gain equitable access to employment opportunities.
? Ensure that all employment opportunities and policies are fair and accessible to all, taking into account the most vulnerable and under-represented workers.
? Improving the welfare of workers in all fields, and ensuring that the socio-economic recovery that occurs is mutually beneficial and protects the rights of all workers.
? Supporting fair and sustainable employment through investment, workforce development, training, and fair transition policies.
? Urging the issuance of policies which can increase the potential of MSMEs as the main sources of employment provision.
? Urging the government to bridge the gap in infrastructure and digital innovation, both abroad and domestically, and to adapt human rights in the digital era by promoting digital rights and access to data.
