2nd Environmental Congress
| Subject: International Relations
The challenges of SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), under discussion in Guatemala
From 21 to 25 September 2020, the 2nd Environmental Congress – Guatemala City, organised by the Guatemala City Council, was held online. Under the title "Sustainable Cities: 2030 outlook on compliance with SDG 11", the congress revolved around three main issues: sustainability and access to transportation; access to green areas and public spaces; and policies and plans for disaster risk mitigation.
The event, which lasted five days, included conferences featuring experts in the above-mentioned fields from a number of different Guatemalan and international institutions.
The AMB was also present, with two technical lectures: the director of Public Space Services, Albert Gassull, talked about the AMB's system for integrating green areas into public space; and the director of the Area for the Development of Urban Planning Policies, Josep Maria Carreras, gave a speech on natural disasters, approaches and administrative control at the AMB.
The head of the AMB International Cooperation Service, Maria Peix, was part of the jury in charge charged of assessing various proposals submitted within the "SDG Action" contest. This contest, organised by the Guatemala City Council's Environmental Education Centre, rewards innovative, accessible and applicable proposals and ongoing projects aimed at contributing to Guatemala's sustainable development.
Close to 400 participants
In addition to the lectures, the event also included panel discussions on the congress' topics, as well as a series of information capsules and guided virtual tours of a number of Guatemala City's public spaces and services, urban ecological parks and efficient means of transport. The Congress was attended by close to 400 participants from various Latin-American countries, such as Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Bolivia and Ecuador.