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14 May 2010
World Cities Summit 2010 Partners Global Leaders for a Sustainable Future
1 All eyes will be on Singapore from 28 June to 1 July 2010, as the second World Cities Summit (WCS) brings together the foremost leaders in government, industry, and business from around the world to discuss key issues on urban sustainability and identify solutions to the most pressing issues faced by developed and developing cities. 2 Organised under the theme of Liveable and Sustainable Cities for the Future, WCS is proud to announce a range of strategic partners, supporting organizations, and sponsors who have come on board to support the event and lend their expertise in promoting best practices in urban sustainability. Partners from International Organisations 3 WCS Strategic Partners comprise leading international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission Asia Pacific (UNESCAP). 4 Collectively, the WCS Strategic Partners will share their views on a range of issues, including policy development, trade and investment, transport, environment, sustainable development, and social development. Dr Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, Dr Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary, UNESCAP, Mr Daniel Biau, Director of Technical Cooperation Division, UN-HABITAT Nairobi, Mr Toshiyasu Noda, Director, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, UN-HABITAT, Mr Haruhiko Kuroda, President, ADB, and Mr James Adams, Vice President of the East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank are among the distinguished dignitaries scheduled to speak at the WCS. 5 Additionally, WCS Supporting Organisations include the Asia Society, the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore (ISEAS), Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA), the UCLG ASPAC (United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific), CITYNET (The Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements), the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), Urban Land Institute (ULI), Fundación Metropoli, the Convention on Biological Diversity, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS), and the Singapore Business Federation. 6 Well-known experts such as Mr Richard M Rosan, President, Urban Land Institute Foundation, USA and Dr Vishakha Desai, President of Asia Society will share their expertise and insights on liveable and sustainable cities at the plenary sessions of WCS. Partners from Industry 7 Meanwhile, various leading industry players from Singapore and beyond have signed on as WCS Platinum Sponsors. Far East Organization, Veolia Environnement, Siemens, and IBM will be involved in the Summit, and provide practical insights into the impact which considerations of sustainability have had on their businesses, and ways in which their companies provide practical solutions to the complex urban challenges confronted. 8 “The World Cities Summit is designed as a platform for countries, cities, companies, and even citizens from around the world to converge to share knowledge, information and resources, joining together to address the challenges of urban sustainability,” said Mr Andrew Tan, a Co-Chairman of the WCS. Mr Tan is the Director of the Centre for Liveable Cities, a co-organiser of the WCS, and also the CEO of Singapore’s National Environment Agency. “We are very happy to have with us so many leading players, who will add substantive depth to our discussions.” 9 Mr Lothar Herrmann, President and CEO of Siemens ASEAN said the company is planning to launch the results of an infocomm technology and megacity management survey at the World Cities Summit. “Urban sustainability is not just about the environment – it’s actually a holistic approach to development in areas like energy efficiency, healthcare, mobility, security, finance, intelligent buildings and adequate supplies of life’s basic requirements while reducing environmental burdens. We are looking forward to sharing our global survey results and will provide a better understanding of megacity management, and how information and communications technology is changing cities and the quality of life for its citizens,” said Mr Herrmann. 10 Mr Chia Boon Kuah, Executive Director of Far East Organization believes Singapore is well placed to host the World Cities Summit. “As a global cosmopolitan city-state, Singapore understands well the challenges of balancing rapid economic growth, urbanisation and yet having to provide and sustain a clean and green environment. And at Far East Organization, the largest private property developer in Singapore, we recognise the significance of sustainability in development and believe in innovating and creating effective places and spaces to live, work, and play, to improve our way of life and preserve our environment. For example, in some of our residential developments, we have created communal sky terraces, family cabanas and extensive landscaped gardens that encourage community interaction. During this summit, we look forward to learning from others and sharing our insights,” said Mr Chia. 11 Quoted Mr Antoine Frérot, Director General of Veolia Environnement "We live in a new world, a world of scarcity, a world subjected to ever more stringent environmental constraints. And time is running out. In an international context of economic and demographic inequalities, we must learn to do more, with less. An environmental revolution that is already underway; but without innovation, there can be no green growth. Profound technological mutation, marked by innovation and integration in every area, will allow Veolia Environnement to prompt the emergence everywhere of the efficiency, savings and responsibility that are the principles of green growth." 12 Ms Teresa Lim, Managing Director of IBM Singapore is looking forward to sharing insights and approaches from around the world. “In 1900, only 13 percent of the world’s population lived in cities. By 2050, that number will be 75 percent. We are adding an equivalent of seven New Yorks to the planet every year. We believe that liveable, sustainable cities can be realised when its systems are smart enough to work in concert - a system of systems. This does not just refer to the convergence of the world’s digital and physical infrastructures, but also of man-made and natural systems such as supply chains and weather patterns, and metro-centres and water supplies. Together, we can build a world with intelligent systems and sustainable cities suited to growing populations, with cleaner and greener sources of energy, and dynamic and innovative people. IBM is proud to partner the World Cities Summit to share and gain insights through the Summit activities including the IBM SmarterCities plenary session,” said Ms Lim. 13 To reflect WCS’ focus on sustainable development, Cycle and Carriage will be sponsoring 60 special Mercedes Benz E-Class “WCS” plated cars, the majority of which are CGI BlueEFFICIENCY cars. 14 “We would like to thank our many partners,” said Mr Andrew Tan. “Recognising the diversity of issues covered by urban sustainability, we are delighted to walk hand in hand with such a diverse range of organisations, who will provide us with an unprecedented opportunity to leverage their networks and knowledge to promote initiatives which support urban sustainability.”
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About the World Cities Summit 2010 To be held at Suntec City between 28 June and 1 July 2010, WCS 2010 will bring together over a thousand distinguished delegates to confer on issues relating to leadership and governance, the building of sustainable and eco-friendly cities, and the fostering of harmonious and sustainable communities. Now in its second run, the Summit aims to serve as a leading platform for global cities to identify practical, scalable and replicable solutions to the urban challenges of today and tomorrow. Visit us at www.worldcities.com.sg. About the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) About the Civil Service College (CSC) Through creating a service-wide environment for dialogue, knowledge-sharing and learning, CSC enables public officers from diverse backgrounds to share perspectives and build a common ethos. CSC offers practitioner-focused programmes and services to help the Singapore Public Service grow its policy-making, leadership and management, and public administration capacity. On the global front, CSC’s engagements with a series of international partners make it a one-stop learning institution for overseas participants interested in the Singapore governance model, with customised training programmes and workshops conducted both in Singapore and abroad. Visit us at www.cscollege.gov.sg. For media queries, please contact: Lance John / Fenix Wong Goh Chian Hao |
