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Global Cities Hub

Connecting local and regional governments to the United Nations and other international organizations
 

HIGHLIGHTS

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On 10 November 2025 the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) opens in Belém (Brazil). To be successful, States must include local and regional governments (LRGs) in the global efforts to implement the pledges of the Paris Agreement, by formally recognizing and harnessing the vital role they play in driving more ambitious and inclusive climate action.
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December 8, 2025 11:15 am
UNEA-7 OFFICIAL SIDE EVENT | While cooling has become essential for urban adaptation, the integration of LRGs into international governance and implementation mechanisms remains limited. This session will bridge that gap, showcasing how local actors are already delivering solutions on the ground and why they must be fully included in UNEA-led processes.
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This dynamic session on “Citiverse Rising: Virtual Worlds and AI Agents for Urban Transformation”, within the Smart Cities World Expo Congress 2025 brought together outstanding partners and visionaries. They discussed one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how cities can navigate an era of too many projects, fierce competition for innovation, and rising costs while keeping people at the heart of every technological advance.

TOPICS

The Global Cities Hub is at the forefront of linking LRGs and international organizations to address the most pressing challenges faced by urban centers worldwide. Engaged in a diverse array of initiatives, GCH fosters collaboration among cities,  mayors and city networks to strengthen inclusive multilateralism in the Geneva ecosystem, including the United Nations. Our work spans critical areas including environment and climate change, smart city development, protection of human rights, and promotion of urban health. By facilitating knowledge exchange and joint action, we aim to create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments for all.

 

NEWS

Advancing Urban Forestry: Connecting Global Policy and Local Practice

The Global Cities Hub (GCH) has reaffirmed its commitment to connecting international policy frameworks with local action on urban and peri-urban forestry, a vital component of resilient urban infrastructure. Through initiatives such as the Miyawaki Forest site visit and its participation in the 83rd UNECE COFFI session, the GCH continues to advocate for stronger coordination ...

Local and regional governments at the GFHS2025

The 20th Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS 2025) gathered global leaders, national policymakers, local and regional governments, mayors, and sustainability experts at the WMO in Geneva. The Global Cities Hub spoke at the High-Level Dialogue and moderated two interesting panels.

Discussing Agentic AI for Cities on World Cities Day

The special webinar on “Empowering lives through people-centred smart cities” put in the focus the people-centered approach shared by several UN agencies. It covered a range of issues from leveraging technology in an adequate way to developing a digital wellbeing framework concept for urban life and to contributing to citizens’ quality of life.