Encamp Showcases Sustainability at UN Mayors Forum in Geneva

Encamp is showcasing its sustainability initiatives at the sixth UN Forum of Mayors in Geneva, where representatives from the Andorran parish are sharing experiences on sustainable mobility, urban transformation, and cultural heritage preservation.

The event, held on 12 and 13 October and organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (Unece), brings together around 80 mayors and municipal leaders from more than 50 countries. This year's edition, themed "Cities committed to a sustainable future", emphasises the role of local governments in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals through resilient and innovative urban models.

Encamp's major consellera, Laura Mas, spoke on Monday morning in a session on sustainable mobility and road safety. She highlighted two local projects: the on-demand public transport service Uclic, and free school transport to Pas de la Casa during winter. Both aim to ease daily travel and cut reliance on private vehicles.

On Tuesday morning, Mas will address green cities and environmental quality, presenting efforts to enhance residents' quality of life and shift Encamp from a commuter hub to a more residential parish. Key examples include the Ossa park, urban renaturalisation, and water-saving and reuse systems, alongside improvements to public spaces and green areas.

In the afternoon, she will discuss the Orris Route as a model for high-mountain cultural heritage conservation. The project blends archaeological research, landscape protection, and public outreach on historical human activity, while promoting eco-friendly tourism.

Encamp was invited to represent Andorra and will feature in three of the forum's six sessions. Mas noted that such international forums enable "an enriching exchange of experiences applicable to our Andorran context, despite differing territorial realities". She added a shared commitment among participants to invest and innovate for sustainable cities.

During her stay, Mas has been accompanied by Ferran Costa from Andorra's permanent mission. She plans to share the forum's insights with other Andorran consellers at an upcoming meeting, potentially benefiting parishes in mobility, climate adaptation, urban sustainability, and heritage protection.

This marks continued Andorran involvement following Andorra la Vella's 2023 participation, where it presented policies for walkable cities, reduced urban traffic, and greater public transport use. The forum, launched in 2020, has become a key UN platform for local government best-practice sharing.