Habitat III, the international summit held in Quito, Ecuador this week, is huge. There are more than 30,000 people here to discuss how to make our rapidly urbanizing world more sustainable.

Hosted by UN Habitat, the summit convenes delegates from 140 countries and 200 cities, all here to adopt the United Nations New Urban Agenda and discuss how to implement it.

The document being crafted by these delegates is significant because it is the first time that the United Nations is providing guidance on cities and sustainability: encouraging the development of cities served by transit, equitable economic growth, environmental protection and inclusive planning processes.

But equally as significant as the document itself is the gathering that its adoption has created. The number of official delegates participating in the negotiations is only a very, very small fraction of the total number of people here. Tens of thousands of participants, like those of us from RPA, are here representing civic society -- advocates, funders and practitioners. We are all here to witness history, certainly. We’re also here to discuss what the New Urban Agenda means in our cities, learn from each other and push best practice.

And perhaps unwittingly, we are also here to show the official delegates that the world is watching, expecting both a great product -- a new international agreement-- and a strong process of inclusive planning.

Being here in Quito is also informing how we at RPA are thinking about our work on the Fourth Regional Plan, the forthcoming blueprint for our region, and what crucial investments and forward-thinking innovations we should recommend to ensure its sustainability and equitable growth.

Here are some of the scenes and speakers we’ve witnessed so far during our time here in Quito:

[gallery size=“large” link=“file” columns=“2” ids=”/uploads/old-site/lab.rpa.org/uploads/2016/10/img_4182.jpg|Dedicated lane in Quito for bus rapid transit,/uploads/old-site/lab.rpa.org/uploads/2016/10/img_4188.jpg.jpeg|RPA and the Municipal Art Society of New York representing the NY region at Habitat III,/uploads/old-site/lab.rpa.org/uploads/2016/10/img_4189.jpg|U.S. HUD Secretary Julian Castro speaking at Next City’s World Stage ‚/uploads/old-site/lab.rpa.org/uploads/2016/10/img_4152.jpg.jpeg|UN Sustainable Development Goals,/uploads/old-site/lab.rpa.org/uploads/2016/10/img_4217.jpg|High number of traffics fatalities a ​“public health crisis” says Janette Sadik-Khan at Next City’s World Stage,/uploads/old-site/lab.rpa.org/uploads/2016/10/image1.jpg|Quito’s streets are busy but they are experimenting with green painted bike lanes.,/uploads/old-site/lab.rpa.org/uploads/2016/10/img_4216.jpg|RPA President Tom Wright at Habitat III”]