Indian Mayor Ms Shelley Oberoi visited Brisbane for the Asia Pacific Cities Summit

Written by Amrita Deshpande (Community News Editor India News)

The Asia Pacific Cities Summit 2023, prooved to be a successful summit for national and international delegates. There was lots to think and reflect for every delegate who attended the summit. Many were able to foster new connections, new ventures, share ideas for sustainable city development and learn from each other. It was a power packed week at the Brisbane Conventional Centre.

Strong Voices were definitely heard at this summit, Young professionals made their presence felt and gave solution based long term recommendations for the sustainable future which needs to be acted upon now. Especially,relating to the climate change, developing environment strategies, creating green spaces through changing behaviours and advocating sustainability.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schriner announced that 1 million extra trees plantation will be done from now until the Olympics in 2032, giving Brisbane a good tree cover with 65 new Parks, building new green bridges for cycling and scootering.

Brisbane was announced the gold level City for the Sustainable Development Goals by UN Sustainable Cities Global. Brisbane is one of the only two places in the world to achieve this.

Around 118 Mayors from different cities around the globe attended the summit. Delhi's youngest Mayor Ms Shelley Oberoi also was in attendance. She also presented a talk on Delhi's efforts towards sustainability in waste management and clean, green, sustainable Delhi. It was a great opportunity to see and learn how plastic is being recycled and converted into materials that could be used for contructing roads and Theme Parks. When asked about women's empowerment she said she was extremely proud to be the youngest Mayor of Delhi and thanked her local public, the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji as well as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for appointing her to this position. Shelley also visited schools in Brisbane to learn the models of education they implement. She was also particularly interested in the teacher training and development in Brisbane schools.

Ms. Shelley Oberoi also met Australia's native animals the Wambat, Geokos, and the Koala. She kept a brave face while interacting with them. In a session about the Olympics and development in the city, Mr. Andrew N Liveris AO (Olympic and Paralympic Games committee) said "It's time for inclusion" and for Olympics, sports should be at its core and people at its heart.Using games you bring communities and other countries together.

He further added that we need a strategy that brings everyone to a level such as a rising tide that will lift all boats.

He also expressed that he will be traveling to Mumbai to share their learning about the journey towards the acquisition of the bid to the Olympic 2032.

Overall the summit connected delegates from all over the globe as well as catered to every age group. Such summits must be encouraged to happen every year. Delegates from countries like India should send not one but team of Mayors from various parts of the country to give a good picture of sustainable India and the efforts being taken towards its implementation.