On November 9, Richmond Hill's Mayor David West welcomed the Rector of the United Nations University (UNU) and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala to the City of Richmond Hill. At a celebration event on the occasion of his visit, attended by Canadian elected officials, the two parties announced a new partnership on sustainability and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the advancement of the City’s environmental and sustainable development strategies.
“Today’s signing ceremony is not just a formal agreement; it is a pledge to work together towards a common goal. By combining our expertise and resources, we can address some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. This partnership will enable us to leverage the strengths of both UNU-INWEH and the City of Richmond Hill to advance research, policy, and practice in water, environment, and health and collectively contribute to the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals in Canada and Globally”, said Rector Marwala.
The agreement marks a new chapter in the collaboration between the City of Richmond Hill and the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), hosted by the City of Richmond Hill. During the event, attended by the Director of UNU-INWEH, Professor Kaveh Madani, and the members of the UNU-INWEH International Advisory Committee, Ambassador Alexandra Bugailiskis, Prof. Akissa Bahri, and Dr. Claudia Ringler, the Mayor of Richmond Hill and other elected officials, including, MP Majid Jowhari, MP Leah Taylor-Roy, MP Ehsassi, and MPP Daisy Wai, and the City of Richmond Hill Council members welcomed the UNU delegation to the Richmond Hill and reiterated their support for the partnership with the City of Richmond Hill on sustainability transition and environmental initiatives that benefit the City, Canada and the rest of the world.
“Today represents a great opportunity for our community to make an impact on our environmental footprint while becoming a more sustainable city. It is one thing to talk about making changes and another to actually do it. Having an agreement like this in place with the United Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment and Health reinforces our commitment to being a catalyst for achieving a sustainable, resilient, low-carbon city” said Mayor West.
Hosted by the Government of Canada since 1996, UNU-INWEH is one of the 13 institutions that constitute the United Nations University system around the world. The institute has been working for nearly three decades on the most pressing water, environmental, and health challenges around the world with particular attention to the countries in the Global South. The institute is led by Professor Kaveh Madani, Since February 2023, the institute is led by Professor Kaveh Madani a world-renowned environmental scientist and leader, who has previously served as the Vice President of the United Nations Environment Assembly Bureau, overseeing the world's highest-level decision-making body on the environment, with a universal membership of all 193 UN Member States.
“We are thrilled to further elevate the level our partnership with the City of Richmond Hill through this Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement marks a significant milestone in our mission to address global water, environmental, and health challenges and share knowledge and experience with the globe. Richmond Hill’s commitment to sustainability and its vibrant, skilled community make it an ideal location for our headquarters. We are deeply grateful to the Government of Canada and the City of Richmond Hill for their unwavering support and leadership in sustainability. We believe that community engagement is crucial to our success, and we look forward to working closely with the City's staff, residents, and thought leaders to advance both local and global environmental strategies” said Director Madani.
Richmond Hill became the headquarters for the UNU-INWEH in April 2024 after its relocation from Hamilton. The selection of Richmond Hill as the new home of the institute’s new headquarters was based on the City’s exemplary leadership in sustainability, its highly skilled and educated workforce, and the many opportunities it offers for partnerships.
Media Contacts:
Sogol Jafarzadeh
UN and Government Relations Coordinator, UNU-INWEH
sogol.jafarzadeh@unu.edu
Candice Debi
Director, Communications, City of Richmond Hill
Candice.Debi@RichmondHill.ca
Kate Davey
Communications Coordinator, Office of the Mayor
Kate.Davey@RichmondHill.ca
