As the proportion of the world’s population living in cities grows at an unprecedented rate, with projections indicating that it will reach 68% by 2050, cities are becoming key players in meeting citizens’ needs. Municipal leaders must address the implications of this growth and develop a new understanding of living together in urban communities. Factors such as limited space, the growing digital divide and emerging security threats are already reshaping our very understanding of what it means to live together.
In 2015, more than 20 mayors gathered in Montreal and expressed the need to exchange experiences and solutions to the major challenges of social cohesion, inclusion and community safety in the context of globalisation. The outcome of their discussions was the Montreal Declaration on Living Together, a commitment to developing better policies for urban life.
To continue this discussion, the city of Düsseldorf is inviting distinguished mayors, deputy mayors and thought leaders from around the world to take part in three days of workshops. Our ambition is to work together to develop an inspiring vision of the liveable city of tomorrow, one that responds to citizens’ needs. The summit will offer mayors unique opportunities to present their initiatives and best practices across five key themes related to living together, and to engage in constructive discussions on strategies and solutions to current challenges.
The programme will feature results-oriented workshops with interactive elements, public debates, press meetings and cultural events in a state-of-the-art environment. Over three consecutive days, participants will have the opportunity to create together, learn from one another, strengthen their relationships and enjoy the beauty of Düsseldorf.
Düsseldorf will be the first city to communicate the summit’s outcomes directly to its citizens and establish an innovative platform for discussion. The workshop conclusions will be digitally summarised overnight and presented at a public exhibition, enabling open discussion between mayors and citizens. Any participating city will be able to use this exhibition format to present the results and discuss them with its own citizens.