MoU For UN-Habitat and ICAO To Strengthen Their Cooperation

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enhancing the synergies between Urban Development and Aviation has been signed by the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme

BY Realty Plus
Published - Thursday, 25 Mar, 2021

MoU For UN-Habitat and ICAO To Strengthen Their Cooperation

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enhancing the synergies between Urban Development and Aviation has been signed by the Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). The MOU provides for UN-Habitat and ICAO to strengthen their cooperation with a view to advising States on technical and policy matters relating to aviation issues raised within the context of the sustainable integration of airports in urban areas and within national development programmes. It directly supports SDGs 9, 11, and 13, which respectively pertain to economic development, urban well-being, and climate change. The relationship is reciprocal as urban conditions impact on aviation safety, navigation, efficiency, and security, and consequently the economic development of air connectivity and its environmental consequences. This MOU calls for the strengthening of coordination efforts on the effective integration of civil aviation and urbanization into sustainable development frameworks at all levels. UN-Habitat and ICAO should continue to work together to produce new knowledge about the spatial relationship between Urban development and Aviation. “All stakeholders should seize the opportunity presented by the adoption of the New Urban Agenda to join ICAO in the promotion of the integration of air transport systems into the sustainable urbanization planning and development”. There is a need for enhanced cooperation and knowledge exchange on science, technology and innovation to benefit sustainable urban development, in full coherence, coordination and synergy with Air transport and the processes of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism launched under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the United Nations.