Global State of National Urban Policy 2021: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Delivering Climate Action provides a comprehensive review of national urban policy (NUP) in 162 countries around the globe. This global monitoring report, produced by the OECD, UN-Habitat and Cities Alliance, showcases how countries use NUP to enhance sustainable urban development, advance global agendas and address challenges magnified or revealed by the COVID-19 crisis. It also provides ten recommendations for NUP to build better cities, and develop an integrated, multi-level and strategic vision for cities after COVID-19.
This report is the second edition of Global State of National Urban Policy. It builds and expands on the first edition launched at the 2018 World Urban Forum, to compare key NUP trends, characteristics and evolution since 2018. In doing so, the report introduces a refined and more robust data collection process, in particular, a dedicated country survey on NUP extended to 86 countries, complemented by desk research on another 76 countries. Moreover, the report features two new thematic strands offering more specific evidence in relation to the role of NUP in (1) advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and other global urban agendas, and (2) spearheading a systems approach to build low- carbon and climate- resilient cities.
The report is an outcome of the 2019-20 Workplan of the National Urban Policy Programme (NUPP), which aimed at strengthening knowledge and capacity in countries to develop, implement and monitor NUP in an effective, efficient and inclusive way.
Looking forward, the NUPP Workplan for 2021-22 asserts global monitoring of NUP as an ongoing activity, alongside three other priorities: (1) thematic studies, (2) enhanced knowledge exchange, and (3) stronger engagement and collaboration across NUPP partners.