The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and the Instituto Tecnólogico Autónomo de México (ITAM) are jointly organizing the 2018 APPAM International Conference which will be hosted by the ITAM at its principal campus location in southwest Mexico City.
Located in one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas, the 2018 conference comes some 18 months after the 2016 bi-decennial UN-Habitat III conference in Quito and the adoption of the “New Urban Agenda” (NUA). The NUA presents a paradigm shift based on the science of cities and lays out standards and principles for the planning, construction, development, management, and improvement of urban areas along its five main pillars of implementation: national urban policies, urban legislation and regulations, urban planning and design, local economy and municipal finance, and local implementation. The NUA also incorporates the United Nations 2015 sustainable development agenda which sets goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, embodied in 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs propose specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years and include: Poverty, Good Health and Wellbeing; Quality Education; Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Climate Action, etc.