Redefining centrality intermediate cities and peripheral cities on the path to urban sustainability.

Recent territorial dynamics are characterized, among other elements, by strong competitiveness between cities and regions, on a global scale and within countries. When not addressed correctly, these dynamics can deepen existing territorial inequalities, or generate new inequalities, in addition to fostering unbalanced conditions for local governments.
Central cities concentrate increasingly greater growth, more investment and better opportunities for development, finding themselves in a better position to confront the most pressing global challenges, such as mitigating climate change, the fight against inequality, economic crises or a possible pandemic, as seen in 2020. On the other hand, intermediate cities and peripheral cities – understood as those that, located within a metropolitan area, are on the periphery in relation to the central city – are forced to face these same challenges in less favourable conditions, in a context of lack of resources, limited capacities and unbalanced governance.
This event proposes to exchange experiences between cities and local governments that, being diverse among them, share some circumstances and challenges. It is about knowing what intermediate and peripheral cities in various parts of the region are doing to support the fulfilment of global agendas and move towards urban sustainability.
The event will have two parts: in the first part, cities that promote the Forum of Peripheral Authorities, a UCLG initiative, will present the problems, opportunities and challenges of peripheral cities in metropolitan areas. Territorial inequality is usually expressed in spaces of urban expansion, where inhabitants often arrive before urban development. In established metropolises, segregated peripheral territories suffer from historical gaps: precarious habitat, difficulty in mobility, unemployment and informal work, lack of access to health and education, insecurity, digital divide. In newer metropolises, the peripheries are experiencing accelerated urbanization processes, but aggravated by the lack of resources and competencies – sometimes non-existent – of local governments.
In the second part, the event will focus in sharing local experiences around the governance, definition, implementation, financing, monitoring and evaluation of the Urban Agenda on intermediary cities in Spain. Within the framework of the process of implementation of the Spanish Urban Agenda, cities like Alcorcón, Chiclana de la Frontera, Granollers, San Fernando, Sant Boi y Viladecans, are in the process of developing, or already have, an action plan for the Local Urban Agenda. Based on this experience, the side event will promote an exchange within intermediate cities that are addressing similar challenges on the definition, governance, monitoring and implementation of strategic urban planning.