As part of the United Nations World Habitat Day celebration Abu-Ghazaleh’s Role Highly Recognized Globally as Founding Chair of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization

NEW YORK- HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh’s fundamental role as the Founding Patron of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization (CSU), a New York based, not-for-profit organization devoted to building bridges between United Nations and civil society - the design professions, business, academia, and allied organizations- was highly recognized during the virtual CSU 2020 Annual Gala celebrations.

Speaking at the inaugural Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Lecture: “Millennial Thinking: Reflections on our Designed Future,” organized as  part of the United Nations World Habitat Day celebration, and  a fitting tribute to Abu-Ghazaleh’s vision and seminal contribution, Mr. Sarbuland Kahn, who succeed Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh as Chair of the CSU Advisory Board, said: “Over the last two decades, it has been my privilege to work closely with Dr. Talal Abu- Ghazaleh, a visionary global business leader from the Middle East, who has made it his life’s work to help bring the benefits of technology to those around the world who have been left behind and who need it most".

“Today, I want to acknowledge Dr. Abu- Ghazaleh who has been the Honorary Chair of the CSU Advisory Board since its inception. He is a well-known global business leader who has dedicated his life to the service of the UN in innumerable capacities and to the service of humanity through his many philanthropic endeavors in the fields of education, technology and, yes, sustainable urbanization. The CSU has a special place in his heart as he was instrumental in its creation when he was the Chair of the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development,” Mr. Khan added.

According to Kahn, who chaired this inaugural TAG Lecture by CSU Champion awardee Claire Weisz, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) as part of the World Habitat Day celebration: “The CSU owes its dynamism and continued relevance to the vision and commitment of its co-founders and to the generous support of its founding patron, Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh who played a leading role in several pioneering United Nations initiatives: As Co-Chair of the UN ICT Task Force, in conceiving the UN Working Group on Internet Governance and as Chair of the  UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development, which helped place technology in the service of  sustainable  development and poverty eradication. He [Abu Ghazaleh] also worked closely with UN Habitat to launch Network 11, as a joint initiative to support the implementation of SDG Goal 11 on sustainable urbanization,” Khan said.

Khan also praised Maimounah Sharif, Executive Director of UN Habitat and Director Chris Williams for their outstanding leadership in placing sustainable urbanization at the forefront of the international development agenda and for their support for the CSU mission, “I would also like to acknowledge and thank Lance Jay Brown, President of the CSU and his colleagues for organizing this important event.”

From his headquarters in Amman, Jordan, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh highly appreciated the honor of being part of the CSU mission saying: “CSU’s mission is to promote a better understanding of the role of sustainable urbanization and resilient design in the planning of our cities; and I have been honored to be part of such a noble mission. The CSU has many challenges ahead and so is our future but I strongly believe that it will succeed thanks to the wise leadership and dedicated members. I will always feel proud of serving the CSU as Chair of the Advisory Board”

Meanwhile and during the CSU Gala CSU President Jay Brown thanked Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh “for his gracious support over the years.” 

In 1985, the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat. The CSU Virtual Conference under the title “Post-Pandemic Cities” was organized to highlight the importance of this day.