Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados at the United Nations in Geneva presented the challenges and policies for Smart, Sustainable, Human-Centered Cities
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Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados at the United Nations in Geneva presented the challenges and policies for Smart, Sustainable, Human-Centered Cities
An important lecture titled “Smart, Sustainable, Human-Centered Cities: A Policy Perspective” was delivered today, October 9, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva by Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados, Director of the Postgraduate Program “Digital Culture, Smart Cities, IoT and Advanced Digital Technologies” at the University of Piraeus and holder of the UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion – Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources.”
The lecture took place within the framework of the 86th Session of the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management and the Ministerial Meeting on Sustainability, during which 30 ministers and representatives of member states committed to adopting and shaping new strategic priorities for sustainable local development.
In his address, Professor Vergados highlighted the critical policy issues concerning the transition toward smart, sustainable, and human-centered cities, emphasizing the need for integrated policy frameworks within the field of urban development. He also underscored the pivotal role of the UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion” in international policy initiatives on sustainability, its participation in UN expert groups, and its contribution to the development of tools and policy guidelines for sustainable urban governance.
The Coordinator of the UNECE Committee and the United Nations Smart and Sustainable Cities Initiative congratulated Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados for the significant work and initiatives undertaken by the UNESCO Chair, acknowledging its contribution to shaping policies for smart and sustainable cities.
During the session, Professor Vergados also met with the Permanent Representative of Greece in Geneva, Ambassador Mr. Ioannis Gkikas.
The UNECE Committee is the only intergovernmental body that comprehensively addresses the challenges of urban development and serves as the highest policy-making organ in matters of housing, urban development, and land management.
Ten years after the adoption of the Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing, the ministers of the member states reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening sustainable and affordable housing and to creating policies that promote sustainability, innovation, and social cohesion.
Under the leadership of Professor Dimitrios D. Vergados, the UNESCO Chair “Creative Cities in Motion – Urban Sustainable Mobility and Utilization of Cultural Resources” will continue its efforts and international collaborations aimed at fostering national development and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
08 – 10 October 2025
UNECE Ministerial Meeting on Housing Affordability and Sustainability and the 86th Session of the Committee on Housing, Urban Development and Land Management
Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
09 Oct 2025
