Accelerating Local Climate Action and Urban Green Transition for Inclusive, Sustainable, and Resilient Cities

Cities are home to over half of the world’s population, generating more than 80% of global GDP, two-thirds of global energy consumption, and 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, a 2°C rise in global temperatures and rapid urbanization is expected to place 2.7 billion people, predominantly in urban settings, at moderate or high risk of climate-related impacts, with 1.7-2.4 billion people facing water scarcity by 2050, and 800 million people in cities being vulnerable to sea level rise, storm surges, and coastal flooding.

At the forefront of climate impacts, cities and local actors are well-positioned to lead global and local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and strengthen the resilience of urban residents to leave no one behind. Increasingly, cities are utilizing green infrastructure and nature-based solutions, from mangroves to green roofs and urban parks, for urban cooling, flood protection, food and water security, biodiversity and forest conservation, health and well-being, and adaptation to sea level rise and climate disasters.

Vulnerable population groups such as the urban poor, migrants and refugees, the internally displaced, persons with disabilities, women, children and youth, and the elderly, face disproportionate risks from climate change, emphasizing the need to foster community engagement, financing and resource mobilization, and participatory decision-making mechanisms among local actors to strengthen their resilience against climate impacts.

In addition to supporting the transition to renewable energy and sustainable transportation systems, cities are investing in programs that create green jobs, incentivize green businesses, ensure social protection, and provide training and entrepreneurship opportunities, particularly for vulnerable population groups, to ensure that a just transition to the urban green economy that generates livelihoods and prosperity, while leaving no one behind.

From nature-based solutions and sustainable urban mobility to green jobs and renewable energy, this event will bring together diverse perspectives from cities and local governments, national governments, civil society, international organizations, NGOs, academia, and the private sector to spotlight challenges, initiatives, innovative practices, participatory decision-making, climate financing and resource mobilization, partnerships, strategies, and local actions that are facilitating a just, inclusive, and resilient transformation towards urban green economies in cities and communities around the world.