The Business Caucus is the main platform designed for the private sector to present best practices and innovation for sustainable cities. It constitutes a private sector forum within the World Urban Forum, being the second of its kind after the First Habitat Business Forum launched in New Delhi in July 2009. For the private sector, the general theme of the Forum entails issues of affordability and accessibility that can bridge the divide between the wealthy and the poor, between the developed and the dysfunctional city, between the connected and unconnected city, between the safe and unsafe neighborhoods. Into this equation, comes innovation through new partnerships and business models that can address the bottom of the economic pyramid and provide more inclusive solutions to the lower segments, for the benefit of all, and towards more inclusive cities. While clean technologies and mechanisms are encouraged, the practices should also be geared towards affordable solutions. Scheduled on Wednesday 24 March and Thursday 25 March (morning), the Business Caucus will include open facilitated debates and presentations of outstanding practices from the private sector on the theme: Greening Cities, Bridging the Urban Divide. The Business Caucus will address the theme through the following key challenges: green technologies for cities; affordable land and housing; basic services for healthy urban living; the digital city. Invitees are representatives from the business and industry, policy experts, representatives of communities and other stakeholders working with the business sector. For questions, please contact Ms. Christine Auclair at: Christine.Auclair@unhabitat.org
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Business Caucus: Greening Cities Bridging the Urban Divide