About the Congress

One of the main activities of ISOCARP is the organisation of our annual World Planning Congress which focuses on a planning theme of foremost international interest. Attended by some 350-500 delegates, ISOCARP Congresses are small enough for personal interchange of ideas on a given theme, yet big enough to encompass a broad professional and international range. The Congresses are open to ISOCARP Members (reduced congress fees), but our Society warmly welcomes non-members (individuals, parties or organisations). The Congress provides a platform for establishing professional as well as personal contacts with colleagues from all around the world.  

Results of the 55th ISOCARP World Planning Congress

We are proud that our 55th ISOCARP World Planning Congress, held in Jakarta and Bogor, Indonesia, on 9-13 September, has attracted a record number of over 700 international and local attendees! 

The Congress' theme – Beyond the Metropolis – has been discussed in 3 plenaries, 7 tracks, 19 special sessions, and 3 technical tours, co-organised with the Indonesian Association of Urban and Regional Planners (IAP). 

There were four keynote speeches:

1. Matt Lally: Planning the Megacity
2. Shipra Narang-Suri: Sustainable Urbanisation in the Global Agendas from Ideas to Implementation to Impact.
3. Pedro Ortiz: Metropolitan Governance
4. Agnès Deboulet: Competitive Cities and Spatial Justice

Delegates explored the opportunities of planning without limits as well as the possible alternatives to reaching global impact beyond megacities in 7 parallel tracks:

1. Limitless cities and urban futures: planning for scale
2. Besides the megacity and other cities: planning for balance
3. Liveable places and healthy cities: planning for people
4. Knowledge economies and identity: planning for culture
5. Smart futures and sustainability: planning for innovation
6. Changing environment and risk: planning for resilience
7. Urban governance and planning profession: planning for future
   
   

We would like to thank all participants, organisers, sponsors, volunteers and the Congress Team for being part of this successful event. We see this Congress as an important commitment to ISOCARP's presence in Southeast Asia as well as towards a carbon-neutral gathering in the future.

Next year, the 56th ISOCARP World Planning Congress goes to Doha, Qatar. 
Looking forward to seeing you there in November 2020!