The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and UN Habitat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to address key challenges in global urbanisation.
The strategic partnership was announced at the World Urban Forum (WUF), the global conference on sustainable urbanisation convened by UN-Habitat, in Cairo, on 6 November. Through it, both organisations have committed to action in five key areas:
- Project collaboration and implementation
- Capacity development
- Research and knowledge exchange
- Policy advocacy
- Events and dissemination
The collaboration has been negotiated over sequential conferences including IFLA World Congress Nairobi and COP 28 in 2023, and the recent IFLA World Congress Istanbul in September 2024. It has been made at a time when UN stats show that 60% of the urban infrastructure required by 2030 has yet to be built, and that cities’ spatial growth is growing faster than human population by 2:1.
In this context, the partnership will set out to address challenges in climate resilience, biodiversity loss, and quality public space, whilst also aligning with frameworks including the Paris Agreement, New Urban Agenda, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2020, IFLA published ‘A Landscape Architectural Guide to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals’, which can be viewed here.
The LI continues to work closely with IFLA, with LI President, Carolin Göhler FLI, joining other Fellows of the Landscape Institute at the recent IFLA World Congress in Istanbul.
The LI’s work in promoting global sustainable development also continues with the UK Built Environment Action Group (UKBEAG), which renewed its pledge to tackle urgent global challenges in March 2024.
Carolin Göhler FLI, President, Landscape Institute, said:
“The Landscape Institute is delighted that this groundbreaking partnership between IFLA-World and the UN has been made at the World Urban Forum conference in Cairo.
The unique skills and expertise offered by the landscape architecture profession are vital for addressing the challenges presented by rapid global urbanisation and climate change. It is essential that any land-related project is landscape-led, and that landscape architects are involved early to ensure that key decisions maximise benefits for nature and local communities.
Not only will this IFLA-UN partnership ensure that landscape architects around the world can positively impact sustainable urban development where it is most needed, but they will also be recognised for their essential role.
International cooperation and collaboration has never been more important, and the LI offers its full support to IFLA, UN-Habitat, and our professional colleagues around the world.”
