UNA Harrogate: SDG 11: Sustainable Cities - With Leeds City Council CEO

Leeds City Council chief Tom Riordan will take the hot seat at a United Nations Association sustainability event in Harrogate to discuss how the Leeds City Region is meeting the organisation’s development goals. The event is being hosted by the Harrogate branch of the United Nations Association, which was founded by local businessman Clive Wilson. It follows Clive’s pledge last year to dedicate the next 15 years to helping the UN deliver its targets for sustainable development. The goals include bringing an end to poverty and promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. “It’s so important to have people in place regionally who can drive forward the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which represent the most powerful vision ever agreed by humanity,” said Clive. “Whilst world leaders must clearly do their part, this is too big an opportunity for us to leave it solely to them.” The Harrogate group has so far focused its attentions on five of the 17 goals, which look at education, energy, infrastructure, creating resilient cities and ensuring sustainable consumption patterns. “After a lively meeting about sustainable and affordable energy we felt it was important to engage local authorities in the debate and understand how they are interpreting the UN’s goals at a regional level,” explained Clive. “Knowing the extensive plans Leeds already has in this respect, Tom Riordan, CEO of Leeds City Council has accepted our invitation to attend the group to explain the Leeds plans at headline level and ask the big question “What else?” A few places are available for non-UNA members and admission is strictly by prior arrangement.