“After nine months of very productive work, the Italian G20 Presidency is leading the final efforts towards the Rome Summit to be held on 30 and 31 October. In this framework, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need to analyse the different strategies aimed at transforming our cities into better places to live”. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Benedetto Della Vedova, said as much at the “Urban20″ event, the Mayors’ Summit 2021, chaired by the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, and the Mayor of Milan, Beppe Sala.Deputy Minister Della Vedova, representing the Italian G20 Presidency, was handed the Summit’s final statement by Mayor Raggi.The pandemic” – the Deputy Minister continued – “has shown that we need shared and coordinated solutions to address the challenges of our time. The G20’s work programme has focused this year on two main areas. The first area is the health emergency and the need to strengthen the multilateral global health architecture. The second area is the promotion of an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery. Bearing this in mind,” Della Vedova added, “the Italian Presidency has developed this year’s work programme around three priorities: People, Planet and Welfare. Through these pillars, we want to convey a clear and strong message: to pursue new prosperity; we must take care of people and the planet by establishing a better balance between them”. The Deputy Minister also highlighted how “cities are crucial in the energy transition thanks to a wide range of hybrid solutions such as electrification of consumption, sustainable mobility, energy-saving and efficiency, digital technologies, smart grids and local energy communities. Citizens, local communities and young people have an essential role in building an emission-free future through new awareness and a change of habits. Also thanks to the direct contribution of cities, the G20 is working to develop the role of urban realities as strategic laboratories for sustainable growth. This is a fundamental challenge to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and create a climate-resilient, zero-emissions future,” Della Vedova concluded.
