5th Urban Economy Forum 2023 | ISOCARP - International Society of City and Regional Planners | 10 October 2023 | Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown, 475 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1X7, Canada

Cities are homes for over 50% of the world's population, consuming two-thirds of global energy and accounting for 70% of global emissions. Cities serve as financial centres and contribute [up to/around] 80% of the global GDP, but cities continue to face social, economic, and environmental development challenges. Many countries are urbanising rapidly without adequate urban governance, fiscal resources, urban policies, and integrated planning, preventing effective and efficient use of resources for sustainable development. There are also shrinking cities, mining and post-mining regions and towns where urban sustainability should be reinvented, considering just transitioning to the green economy and adapting innovative, nature-based solutions and adequate fiscal responses. Climate crises and financial constraints have become additional challenges for sustainable development in cities worldwide, requiring the rethink of policymaking, planning, investment, and development of integrated climate-responsive urban strategies. Thereby, there is a need for better policies, planning solutions and investment in the long-term future of cities to provide and maintain high-quality living conditions for all and stop financial flows historically supporting non-sustainable outcomes such as urban sprawl and real-estate development models leading to increased social and economic inequality.

2023 Speaker

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Kotchakorn Voraakhom
CEO and Founder of Landprocess and Porous City Network, Chairwoman of the Climate Change Working Group of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA World)

2023 Sponsor

SPONSOR:
• Living Water Resorts

ENDORSING PARTNER:
• American Planning Association
• United Cities And Local Governments
• International Tunneling And Underground Space Association
• Canadian Institute Of Planners
• ITACUS
• Royal Town Planning Institute
• Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
• GPEAN Global Planning Education Association Network
• UN Habitat
• The South African Council For Planners
• Global Planners Network
• European Council Of Spatial Planners
• World Urban Campaign
• Cities Alliance