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Remarks by H.E. Annalena Baerbock

President of the 80^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

at the opening segment of the high-level meeting

on the midterm review of the new urban agenda

GA Hall, ±¬ÁÏÍø HQ, New York

16 July 2026

[As Delivered]

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

 

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, yet¡­

only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”

 

That is the vision that lies at the heart of the New Urban Agenda¡­

And one well captured by author Jane Jacobs.

A vision that cities can and must work for everyone.

 

Today, ten years after the adoption of the New Urban Agenda in Quito, cities are home to 58 per cent of humanity ¨C a figure projected to rise to 70 percent by 2050¡­ so, our future will be shaped mainly in cities.

 

And the good news is, if managed well, this urban shift can be a source of enormous opportunity: bringing people together, closer to jobs, services, innovation and one another.

 

If done right, urbanization can be an accelerator of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, discussed at the beginning of this week at the High-Level Political Forum.

 

During that Forum, we heard from many mayors and representatives of cities of every size, from global megacities to small towns, recognizing that local governments are already delivering on the SDGs, on all 17.

 

They are expanding, for example, renewable energy in line with SDG 7; providing clean water and sanitation under SDG 6; building more sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities under SDG 11; and translating global commitments into tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.

 

But, the opposite is also true, without the right policies and leadership on the ground, this urbanization can have the opposite effect: deepening inequality, straining infrastructure, and leaving millions behind.

 

As progress has not kept pace with the pressures we face in all parts of the world and in all cities:

• Three billion people still lack access to safe, adequate and affordable housing.
• Over 330 million are even homeless.
• And over one billion people live in informal settlements or slums.

 

Add to this conflict, instability, rising inequality and the climate crisis, and the resilience of our cities is being tested as never before.

 

The New Urban Agenda recognizes our shared responsibility to ensure that an increasingly urbanized world works for everyone. As the Secretary-General’s report makes clear, that vision remains as relevant as ever, but we have yet to match it with the investment and implementation it requires.

 

Today’s Mid-Term Review, and the Political Declaration before us, is an opportunity to change exactly that.

 

To close financing gaps. To strengthen local governments. To build capacity. To invest in resilience. And to connect the dots across our very clearly connected frameworks, from the SDGs to the Seville Commitment, recognizing that none can succeed in isolation.

 

That the SDGs can never be truly realized if people remain without housing and homeless, if shelter remains temporary, or if inequality continues to divide us between slums and skyscrapers.

 

Most of all, it is an opportunity to bring governments, cities, communities, civil society and the private sector together, working better, together.

 

On this point allow me to thank the city officials joining us today. To commend the Membership, you, for their continued support to this process. And to express my sincere appreciation to the Co-Facilitators of the Political Declaration, H.E. Ms. Agnes Chimbiri Molande, Permanent Representative of Malawi, and H.E. Mr. Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of Poland.

 

At a time when building consensus is increasingly difficult, the Political Declaration before us reflects a shared commitment to fully implementing the New Urban Agenda in the interest of all of us, because every country has cities.

 

As I said at the beginning of this week, if this crazy world cup still going on, has taught us anything, it is this: never give up at minute 80.

 

How many games that looked lost were turned around in the ninetieth minute. It is always, like on the football pitch, one goal, at the right moment, can change everything. And 17 goals at the same moment can change a city¡­ can change the world we all live in.

 

So, your excellencies, dear colleagues, no excuses anymore, we don¡¯t hide behind a consensus which could not be found.

 

We know that there is little time left until 2030, but we also know that we do not stop our efforts before the last minute is played. Nor claim that there are no signs of success¡­ because that is simply not true.

We see the successes in cities; you have built the successes every day. The only thing we are lacking is the will to scale up that work, together.

This is exactly why we are here today. This is exactly what we are doing.

 

There are thousands of successful projects out there.

 

I just saw one of them myself again during a visit to Nairobi. In the town of Korogocho, young people are turning waste into jobs and cleaner streets, with support from ±¬ÁÏÍø Habitat and ±¬ÁÏÍøESCO, and other bilateral support.

 

What started as a group of young people picking up trash turned into a way to make money AND make the community cleaner; build their city together.

 

Now, imagine if this was the common standard in all of Nairobi, in every city, in all our countries.

 

Because, as Jane Jacobs reminded us, cities succeed only when we build them together¡­ with everyone, for everyone.

I thank you.

 

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