Thousands to participate in UN Annual Civil Society Conference in Salt Lake City

(KUTV) — Beginning Sunday evening, the area around the Salt Palance in downtown Salt Lake City is going to experience significant pedestrian and traffic congestion from the 68th United Nations Annual Civil Society Conference.

Thousands of representatives of civil society are expected to meet with senior UN officials and discuss a wide range of solutions to urban life challenges during the conference.

Utah's capital city is the first in the United States to host the annual conference outside the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The 3-day conference (Aug. 26-28) is a global conversation on building inclusive and sustainable cities and communities. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Alison Smale said in a prepared statement:

In visiting Salt Lake City I was struck by the rapid growth and innovation there, symbolized by the construction cranes dotting the beautiful mountain landscape, and by the sense of opportunity as young people flock to the region for its educational and job offerings. It is a great setting for a global conversation on inclusion and sustainability in cities and communities of all sizes.

The theme of this year’s conference is, “building sustainable and inclusive cities and communities." Conference sessions include topics connected to that theme, including climate change. opportunities for youth, and emerging technologies and innovation.

SLC's Sustainability Director Vicki Bennett is sharing best practices on how local and regional governments can lead the way to sustainable communities.

To read and give feedback on the draft of the pre-conference Outcome Narrative, visit https://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/content/outcome-narrative

For more information about the conference, click here.