Cities Forward
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Cities Forward is the U.S. Department of State's "flagship urban sustainability initiative" implemented in partnership with ICLEI, Resilient Cities Catalyst, and the Institute of Americas. Cities Forward "will select 12 Latin American cities to be paired with 12 peer U.S. cities to focus on solutions that solve critical urban issues from pollution, to inclusion, to climate resiliency."[1]
The tax-payer funded program was announced at the Cities Summit of the Americas in April 2023 in Denver, Colorado "to ensure meaningful implementation of commitments emanating from the Ninth Summit."[2]
Cities Forward "aims to help cities create the sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future they want."
About
Excerpt from the Cities Forward Fact Sheet:[3]
- On April 27, 2023, the U.S. Department of State officially launched its flagship urban sustainability initiative – Cities Forward – at the Cities Summit of the Americas, fulfilling a U.S. government commitment made at the Ninth Summit of the Americas in June of 2022. The State Department selected a hemisphere-wide consortium led by ICLEI USA, ICLEI Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, ICLEI South America and their partners Resilient Cities Catalyst, and the Institute of Americas to implement this transformative program which aims to help cities create the sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future they want.
Our Mission
- "The goal of the Cities Forward initiative is to help participating cities implement solutions that advance investments in urban services that promote sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience in neighborhoods and communities. Cities Forward advances this mission with our Western Hemisphere neighbors through collaboration that builds stronger and more equitable economic foundations, strengthens sustainability, and promotes a healthy environment for all. Through Cities Forward, local leaders will build capacity through shared knowledge to address common challenges. Participating cities in Latin America and the Caribbean will develop local sustainability action plans, reflecting their citizen’s highest priorities, particularly from underserved communities. Cities Forward will help build partnerships with local leaders and experts in the United States. In addition, the initiative will facilitate opportunities for cities to seek investments and financing to help implement their plans.
Cities Summit of the Americas
From the Cities Summit of the Americas Website:[4]
Special Session - Cities Forward Initiative Launch Organized by U.S. Department of State
Location: Room 401-2
Time: Thursday, April 27, 12:00-13:00
Moderator: Raffi Balian, U.S. Department of State
- Jose Fernandez, U.S. Department of State Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment
- Jennifer R. Littlejohn "JR", U.S. Department of State Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
- Ravinder Bhalla, Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey, United States
- Brigid Shea, Commissioner of Travis County, Texas, United States
- Angie Fyfe, Executive Director of ICLEI-USA
- Rodrigo Perpetuo, Executive Director of ICLEI South America
- Edgar Villasenor Franco, Regional Director of ICLEI Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean