World Town Planning Day
World Town Planning Day 2023
November 8, 2023 | Learn Globally, Apply Locally
Planners, urban designers and placemakers were invited to the 74th World Town Planning Day 2023 virtual online conference, hosted by the APA, CIP, and APA's International Division on November 8, 2023. This year's theme was: Learn Globally, Apply Locally, and focused on the value of learning from planning and planning cultures globally, fostering innovative, sustainable, and equitable solutions to address global challenges.
WTPD 2023 is a virtual global conference with events organized by Global Planners Network-member associations across time zones from morning in New Zealand to evening in USA/Canada.
33 speakers from 16 countries shared experiences with 820 attendees outlining innovations to promote sustainability, resilience, equity and social justice.
CM | Multi
Eligible for Canadian learning units
See the schedule below for links to log CM credits and check back here for the recordings in APA Passport!
2023 Schedule
NOTE: All times are EST | USA-New York | UTC-5
Opening Keynote: Urban Innovation Starts In My Backyard
10-11:00 a.m. EST
Speaker: Nicholas YOU, Executive Director, Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation, Guangzhou, China
Nicholas You is Executive Director of the Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation, co-Chair of the Open Green City Lab in Shenzhen, and senior green finance advisor to the China City Development Foundation. He regularly advises central and local governments, technology companies and civil society organizations on urban sustainability, urban governance, and urban innovation, and has written and co-authored key policy papers for the U20. You previously served as the senior policy and planning advisor to UN-Habitat and as the manager of the Habitat II Conference held in Istanbul in 1996. He is the founder and honorary chairman of the UN-Habitat World Urban Campaign Steering Committee, former think tank and thought leader for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Siemens, ENGIE and the Global Cities Business Alliance.
New Challenges For Old Problems: Housing Affordability in a Comparative Perspective
11:15-12:15 p.m.EST
Speakers: Bishwapriya SANYAL | Augustina BIASONE | Carina ARVIZU MACHADO | Nicolas MAGGIO | Tenzin JAMATSHO | Jing ZHANG | Salvador HERRERA
Fostering Innovative Int'l Planning Education to Meet the Global Agenda for Planning
12:30-1:30 p.m. EST
Speakers: Olivier SYKES | Giulio VERDINI | Kristy MACARI
Planning Challenges In Ukraine
2-3:00 p.m. EST
Speakers: Lilet BREDDELS | Gala KORNIYENKO | Alice ALEXANDROVA | Nathan HUTSON | Ivan VERBYTSKY
Sustainability and Resilience: Fast and Fun
3:15-4:05 p.m. EST
Speakers: Nuwani KANGANA | Axel David MURILLO | Henry ONAWOLE | Lisa DALLA ROSA | Shea BRUER | Elizabeth SHAY
Sustainable Urbanization: Call To Action
4:15-5:15 p.m. EST
Speakers: Eleanor MOHAMMED | Peter OBORN | Kelley MOORE | Victoria HOBDAY | Lucy SLACK | Annabel BOUD
How Can Planners Support Recovery From Urban Crises and Build Adaptability to Future Challenges
5:30-6:45 p.m. EST
Speakers: Wendy SAUNDERS | Prof. Gavin SMITH | Stephen DREDGE
Equity and Social Justice: Fast And Fun
7-7:50 p.m. EST
Speakers: Abiya BAQUAI | Alejandra BEJARANO | Anna BROBERG | Ruth BERRY |Tilahon FIKADU
Closing Remarks
7:50-8:00 p.m. EST
About World Town Planning Day
On World Town Planning Day, 8 November every year, planners and communities all over the world come together to celebrate how good planning improves the lives of people and benefits society at large, creating places where to live, work and play together.
Argentinian professor Carlos María della Paolera, a graduate at the Institut d'urbanisme in Paris, started World Town Planning Day in Buenos Aires in 1949.
World Town Planning Day is celebrated in 30 countries on four continents each November. It is a special day to recognize and promote the role of planners and planning in creating healthy, prosperous communities.
APA members are invited to share their knowledge and leading practices with colleagues around the world on this day, and also to learn from international success stories in housing for all; building city resilience; planning responses to urban crisis; inclusive and ambitious climate measures and other areas that would enhance U.S. planning practice.
World Town Planning Day Resources
Global Planners Network
APA International Division
A Guide to Using Your Planning Skills Abroad
Need Additional Information?
Send an email with your questions to apa.international.division@gmail.com.