Local and regional authorities, their networks and partners provided their inputs to the first Preparatory Committee meeting of the Habitat III Conference in New York on 15-18 September, setting out their priorities for the Habitat III Agenda and identifying the links between the Sustainable Development Goals and Habitat III.

Local and Regional Government organizations, in their capacity as governmental stakeholders and gathered as part of the Global Taskforce for Post-2015 Development Agenda and towards Habitat III, are committed to undertaking their full responsibility and assuming their role as key partners in the definition and implementation of the Habitat Agenda. In ensuring its linkages to the Post-2015 Development Agenda and its localization, they aim to contribute to managing urbanization so it can be accompanied by better living conditions and sustainable development.

This paper highlights some of the key areas that will need to be developed further during the Habitat III preparation process towards the Conference in 2016.