(KZN.RU,
July 10). The global organization United Cities and Local Governments has done
a lot for the voice of local authorities to be heard and to open the road to development
for cities. “It is important for us, local authorities, to move along this road
and act for a sustainable future”, said Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, the
President of the UCLG Eurasian Branch, at a meeting of the organization’s
Middle East Branch in Amman, Jordan.
Over the
past years, the UCLG Middle East Branch has made a significant contribution to
the development of the world organization, said Ilsur Metshin in his speech.
“We unanimously supported the candidacy of Kadir Topbash, the Mayor of
Istanbul, for the presidency of UCLG in 2010 and 2013. And we were not mistaken
in our choice. Our organization achieved tremendous results during the years of
Kadir Topbash’s presidency”, he said.
UCLG Middle
East branch and UCLG-Eurasia continue the implementation of joint projects,
noted the Mayor of Kazan. He thanked the participants of the meeting for
supporting the project “Study of International Activity of Cities”. This study
aims to analyze the work of city authorities in the development of international
relations and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. “It will help to
reveal the best examples of the development of international relations between
cities. We will analyze what tools local authorities use for the development of
international relations, and in what they do not work”, explained the Mayor of
Kazan. “The focus of the study is on the work of local authorities. And I, as
the mayor of Kazan, personally saw how important local initiatives are, aimed
at strengthening international relations. I saw how much it gives for the
development of the territory of the municipality and for improving the life
quality of citizens”.
Kazan
became one of the first cities in Russia to fight for the right to host major
world sports competitions, noted I. Metshin. He reminded that in 2013, the
capital of Tatarstan hosted the Universiade for the first time in the modern
history of Russia, in 2015 – the FINA Championship, and in 2018, it became one
of the cities organizing the World Cup. “And this is an example from only one
area of international cooperation, the sports”, said the Mayor. He reminded
that the WorldSkills Championship would be held this year in Kazan as well.
“Today, major international events in the life of the city are not something
out of the ordinary, but part of everyday life. It is an extremely effective
tool for the sustainable development of the entire urban economy and a lever
for social transformations”, said the head of the capital of Tatarstan.
The UCLG
World Organization plays an essential role in the development of cities,
continued I. Metshin. For 15 years, the organization has expanded and increased
the geography of coverage. Strong friendly bonds have lined up between the UCLG
member cities, believes the Mayor of Kazan. “Today, UCLG, as an established
international organization, is ready to proceed to further actions”, said the Mayor. He offered to start
implementing specific UCLG projects in particular cities for each of the
sustainable development goals. Such projects can be implemented by every city,
regardless of the population, geographic location, and size of its budget,
emphasized the Mayor of Kazan.
“At each
meeting of mayors, we talk about climate change and think about ways to deal
with them. But we can start with the simplest solutions”, he said. “For example,
a simple battery. Scientists claim that one battery pollutes 20 square meters
of land and up to 400 liters of water. It is in our power to reduce this harm”.
The
Eurasian branch has more than 850 direct and associated members. By collecting
only one ton of waste batteries in each of them, we will be able to protect the
planet from 850 thousand tons of batteries, save 17 thousand square kilometers
of land, and 340 million liters of water from contamination with heavy metals,
explained I. Metshin.
“I gave
this simple example to convince you. By implementing small and low-budget
projects, we will be able to achieve tremendous success due to the number of
cities participating in the project where they will be implemented”, said I.
Metshin. “UCLG is a global network. It’s time to use its resources to achieve
sustainable development everywhere”.
Municipalities
implement many useful projects. However, it is difficult for local authorities
to achieve maximum efficiency without state support. Therefore, it is essential
to synchronize local, regional, and national efforts for the joint
implementation of global agendas in the interests of preserving the planet,
humanity, and the world, marked I. Metshin.
The
Eurasian branch of UCLG participates in the preparation of a voluntary national
review of the achievement of sustainable development goals for the UN Political
Forum on Sustainable Development in 2020. I. Metshin, the President of the
Eurasian section of UCLG, participates in the composition of the Government
Commission for the preparation of the report, as well as in the work of the
subject groups. “I am sure that this will serve as an impetus for further joint
actions on the path to sustainable development”, the Mayor of Kazan shared his
opinion. “It is important for us, local authorities, to move along this road
and act in the name of a future. The time of cities has come, the time has come
to act!”
The Middle
East branch of the World Organization of the United Cities and Local
Governments includes the cities of Turkey, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait,
Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Yemen.
Last
October, Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, was re-elected president of the
Eurasian section of UCLG. This decision was made during the General Assembly of
the branch within the framework of the Congress of Local Authorities of
Eurasia. And in April, it was known that Kazan became a member of the World
Association of Metropolis. Today, the association includes 139 largest cities
in the world, where Kazan is the only Russian city. The Association allows
studying the problems inherent in large cities in more detail, in particular,
issues of ecology, transport, urban planning, and others.