Public spaces such as parks, plazas, waterfronts, and community gardens are foundational to what makes cities livable, inclusive, and resilient to climate change. In a new session of the UNDP SDG Local Solutions Series, titled “Reimagining new public spaces in cities“, we explore how local governments are creating and transforming public spaces to ensure equitable access, social inclusion, and climate resilience in line with the 2030 Agenda.
Date: 28 May 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m CET
Register here
Globally, only 44% of urban residents have access to an open public space within a 400-meter walking distance — a gap that is significantly larger in Global South cities. At the same time, public spaces are increasingly being reimagined as critical climate infrastructure, playing a key role in reducing urban heat, managing stormwater, and strengthening community resilience. The session draws on two city case studies that illustrate innovative approaches to planning, financing, and governing public space:
- In Belfast, United Kingdom, the city has pursued strategic urban regeneration initiatives that have transformed underutilized and post-conflict spaces into inclusive, vibrant public environments, combining community participation, nature-based design, and long-term governance frameworks.
- In Pasig, Philippines, the local government has led ambitious efforts to reclaim and restore urban waterways and riverbanks as accessible public spaces, advancing environmental sustainability and social inclusion in a dense, rapidly urbanizing metropolitan context.
Download the concept note here.
SPEAKERS
Stephen Leonard
Director of Waste and Cleansing in Belfast City Council, United Kingdom
Bernice Mendoza
Executive Assistant, Office of the City Mayor, Pasig City
MODERATOR
Diana López
Advisor Cities and Local Governments, UNDP