World Mayors Commit to Accelerating Local Actions for Sustainability

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 2024 International Mayors Forum, held from July 2-4, 2024, in Jakarta, concluded with the adoption of the Jakarta Declaration. The event gathered mayors, governors, and government leaders to discuss "Accelerating Action at the Local Level to Achieve the 2023 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals."

“We will drive change. However, this time we must focus on structural and systematic changes so that world cities remain on track towards a sustainable future" said Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs to the media.

The Declaration underscores the vital role of urban and rural authorities in global sustainability efforts, addressing challenges such as rapid urbanization, economic constraints, and environmental issues. Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“In line with the discussions held and the insights shared at the Forum, we commit to fostering resilient, adaptive, and inclusive municipal environments amid a changing climate to foment prosperous local economies, ensuring that no one is left behind,” the Declaration said.    

Key commitments include promoting multilevel governance, fostering local innovation, integrating policies and financing, advancing digital transformation, supporting economic inclusivity, and implementing environmental practices. The Declaration also emphasizes community engagement and a synergistic approach to addressing climate change.

The Mayors pledged “to identify and address key enablers or investment pathways for Six SDG Transitions - food systems, energy access and affordability, digital connectivity (including artificial intelligence), education, jobs and social protection, and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”

To implement these commitments, the leaders outlined actions such as building multi-stakeholder partnerships, establishing data-driven governance, and addressing capacity gaps between different levels of government.

The Declaration calls on global leaders to join this transformative journey, committing to collaborative engagement to ensure no one is left behind. The Jakarta Declaration was adopted on July 4, 2024, marking a significant step towards achieving sustainable development goals through local actions and global cooperation.

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