NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY & the UN/DESA NGO Major Group Urban Thematic Cluster 2026 - UN High-Level Political Forum – Position Paper

NGO-MG Urban Thematic Cluster 2026 UN HLPF Position Paper

INTRODUCTION:

The NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY & the UN/DESA NGO Major Group Urban Thematic Cluster (Urban Cluster), along with our partner organizations, operate in alignment with the frameworks of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, UN-Habitat, and the New Urban Agenda. Guided by the vision articulated in UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres’ UN80 Reform Agenda, and the Pact for the Future. The NGOCSD-NY & the Urban Cluster are committed to advancing sustainable urbanization with effective implementation of the New Urban Agenda (2016-2036) and the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035) with our focus on the UN 2030 Agenda for the success of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals, having a particular emphasis on SDG 11, making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable with road-safety initiatives while highlighting the interlinkages to all the Goals. Through collaborative engagement with Member States, United Nations entities, Not-for-Profit & Civil Society Organizations, the UN/DESA Major Groups, private sector and other stakeholders, including local authorities and communities, the NGOCSD-NY & the Urban Cluster promote integrated, people-centered, and transformative solutions to contemporary urban challenges, including universally affordable housing, accessibility, clean air, sustainable transport, road-safety guidelines and policies, disaster resilience, with the increasing importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the multiple barriers to participation and access to innovative tools. In this context, the NGOCSD-NY & the Urban Cluster reaffirm their commitment to fostering multilateral dialogue, mobilizing innovative partnerships, and supporting collective action to achieve sustainable, equitable, and resilient urban futures for all.

2026 UN HIGH LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM (HLPF):

This year the HLPF theme is “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a sustainable future for all”. The 2026 HLPF will have an in-depth review of SDG 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; SDG 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all; SDG 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation; SDG 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable; and SDG 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnerships for Sustainable Development.

SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Recommendations:

• Promote the importance of participatory planning for sustainable, resilient, and regenerative design, with budgets that support access to clean water and proper sanitation for all with updated data in water treatment.

• Address public health concerns by developing innovative tools and systems to mitigate flooding and storm surge, which cause sewage backups and stagnant water that could lead to disease.

• Support and protect the continuation of life under water from pollution caused by climate change and plastic pollutants that damage vital resources such as seaweed, marine life, coral reefs, mangroves, and fisheries.

• Analyze and redirect water use in cities to accommodate increasing demand across urban and rural communities, including AI-generated systems and products related to population change, food supplies, etc.

• Protect coastal cities and communities from the economic impacts of sea level rise through innovative, regenerative design and nature-based technological solutions, supported by resilient infrastructure.

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Recommendations:

• Promote clean, energy-efficient transportation modes to minimize exposure to emissions.

• Encourage collaboration between local government and community organizations to ensure representative coverage of data collection to track air quality variation over time.

• Support policies to promote energy efficiency in building housing, and community infrastructure.

• During extreme heat and cold seasons, address extreme fluctuations by improving energy efficiency and data.

• Consider promoting innovations in waste reuse, and solar technologies.

SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable

industrialization, and foster innovation.

Recommendations:

• Promote the design of healthy work environments with quality ventilation, clean air, and good lighting.

• Design and build sustainable, resilient, and regenerative infrastructure with innovative materials.

• Support accessible, green, public, open spaces designed for liveability and recreation.

• Develop resilient transportation systems based on nature-based solutions, coordination, and community planning.

• Support affordable public access to clinics, health care community centers, hospitals, and essential services.

• Promote infrastructure designs that support road-safety in all urban communities and rural areas.

SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Recommendations:

• Promote solutions for affordable, adequate housing based on new demographics and population changes.

• Ensure residents in communities have safe, equal access to open public spaces, and trees.

• Support integrated speed management, climate and road safety intervention into government policies.

• Implement policies that improve accountability with data transparency and coordinate with permitting and regulatory authorities to prevent the exposure of people to environmental threats.

• Urban planning should include reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation for all, which is critical for accessing jobs, educational opportunities, essential healthcare and wellness services, and recreational activities.

• Equitable transit that promotes road-safety initiatives with accessibiliy should accommodate people with safe and sustainable mobility impairments while also ensuring safe and healthy journeys for all children.

• Policies should ensure security of land tenure rights and no forced evictions.

• Engage local communities in developing strategies to reduce disaster risk by implementing early warning systems and building regenerative, resilient, and sustainable construction to reduce casualties.

SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Recommendations:

• Focus on new opportunities to address issues of sustainable urbanization, resilience, mobility, health, and wellness, particularly in the public realm. We urge Member States and Local Authorities to support the Right to the City, including by providing affordable and accessible housing for all to live with equity, equality, inclusion, and dignity for safe and sustainable mobility.

• Create cohesive and inclusive partnerships among all stakeholders—UN Member States, UN agencies, academia, civil society, and the private sector—to support UN-Habitat in implementing the New Urban Agenda. These partnerships should focus on designing equitable spatial, social, environmental, and economic solutions that accelerate the achievement of the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Mobilize resources and data to strengthen partnerships and accountability, support local economic development, and connect grassroots voices to regional and global platforms.

• Prioritize capacity-building and funding for local authorities, ensuring safe streets and communities, together with grassroots organizations to foster inclusive and sustainable development is effectively implemented.

Our NGOCSD-NY & the Urban Cluster Core Group Contributors:

• Margo LaZaro, President & Chair of the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development-NY & Convenor of the Urban Cluster Core Group

• Jane Katz, NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Core Group Member, Vice Chair & Washington, DC Coordinator of Global Urban Development; New Urban Agenda, Urban Focal Point UNDRR/Sendai Stakeholders Advisory Group, CSO Co-Chair General Assembly of Partners and former CSO Chair UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign

• Dr. Andrise Bass, Vice Chair of the NGOCSD-NY Executive Board, & Core Group Member, Founder of Humanitarian Focus Foundation

• Katherine Kline, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse & NGOCSD-NY Executive Board Secretary & Core Group

• Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallo, President & Executive Director, I. B. Taylor-Kamara Foundation & NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Core Group

• Lance Jay Brown, FAIA, DPACSA, NOMA, President, Architecture + Urban Design, Co-Chair UN Habitat Professionals Forum, Founder and Board Member, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, NGOCSD-NY & Urban Cluster Core Group Member

• Theodore Liebman, FAIA, Principal, Perkins Eastman, Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization, NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Core Group

• *Katherin Sibel, NGOCSD-NY Executive Board UN Youth Rep & the Community Climate Resiliency Coordinator at NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene & Urban Development, & Core Group

• *Analia Pastran, Founder & CEO of InSmartly, Former Co-Chair of World Urban Campaign of UN-Habitat, NGOCSD-NY Exec. Bd & Core Group

• Dr. Sergi Sauri Marchant, PhD, Director of the Center for Transport Innovation-CENIT, unit of CIMNE in Spain, NGOCSD-NY & UC Core Group

• Janice Peterson, Honorary Global Chair of Huairou Commission, NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Sri Husnaini Sofjan, Malaysia/Asia Regional Coordinator a.i. & Senior Program Advisor & Strategist, Huairou Commission & Core Group

• Major Victoria Edmonds, NGOCSD-NY Executive Board Corresponding Secretary, The Salvation Army & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Beverly Bucur, Soroptimist International, Advocacy Advisor 2024-2025 & Women for Water Partnership, Advocacy Coordinator, & NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Pamela Morgan, Zonta International, UN Representative, NGOCSD-NY & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Sushmita Shekar, Urban Designer at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Board Member of Asia Initiatives, and the Asia Initiatives’ UN/ECOSOC Representative and NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Core Group

• Dr. Pamela Ransom, Metropolitan College of New York, Northwestern School of Professional Studies, NGOCSD-NY & Core Group

• Abdoul Byukusenge, Chief Strategist of the I. B. Taylor-Kamara Foundation & NGOCSD-NY Executive Board based at the University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Dr. Kakha Nadiradze President, Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD, in Georgia / Country Representative and Nat’l Coord. for So. Caucasus Countries of the Coalition for Sustained Excellence in Food/Health Protection, NGOCSD-NY & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Steven Aiello, Founder of Debate for Peace, NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Jénine Shepherd, Founder of Youths for Excellence & President of Jamaican American Youth Alliance, NGOCSD-NY Exec. Bd & Core Group

• Peggy Chane, Activist on Water and Women Projects, NGOCSD-NY & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Carmen Capriles, NGO Major Group Activist Climate Change, NGOCSD-NY & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Deborah Fish Ragin, Professor Emerita, Montclair State University, NGOCSD-NY & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Leilani Kabbaz, Community Organizer, Founder Sycamore Alliance Praxis, NGOCSD-NY & Urban Cluster Core Group

• Dr. David Michael Terungwa, NGOCSD-NY Executive Board & Urban Cluster Core Group Member & the Founder of the Global Initiative for Food Security & Ecosystem Preservation, based in Nigeria

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