In his Opening Speech at the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization Advisory Board Meeting: Abu-Ghazaleh: Integrating sustainability in urban growth and development is key to combatting climate change

AMMAN – HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), delivered the opening speech at the first meeting of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization (CSU) Advisory Board based in New York, in his capacity as Consortium Chairman. 

The meeting, which discussed pressing matters related to global sustainability, was organized digitally with the objective of holding an interactive workshop for the CSU members on the effective strategic planning for future smart cities.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh welcomed members of the CSU board as well as other participating officials highlighting the deeply alarming content report of the United Nations Panel on Climate Change.

“This is an existential challenge that cannot be met without integrating real sustainability into all aspects of urban growth and development worldwide,” Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh said.

He went on to affirm that real solutions are needed, and he called on the concerned policy makers to join hands with urban planners, designers and architects to meet sustainability challenges and act as a credible force to address the climate change issue.

He further suggested taking this fundamental challenge as the organizing principle for thinking about the future course and the strategic priorities of the CSU as a global network for mobilizing youth and building knowledge, experience and creativity to deal effectively with the practices that endanger life on our globe.

It should be noted that Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh has chaired the CSU since its establishment as an initiative of the a United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development, that was launched in 2009, of which he also was Chair. This was under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to promote a better understanding of the role of sustainable urbanization and resilient design in cities planning, and to act as a platform for dialogue between the United Nations and the architectural and urban planning community  for promoting sustainable urbanization.

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh concluded by saying that CSU has grown into a dynamic, professional organization with a close working and successful relationship with UN-Habitat and the other UN agencies.

He said that this success needs to be built upon by its dynamic range of thinkers and professionals to guide and manage urbanization efforts, as the survival of the planet and the human race is at stake.