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Category: News

Engaging subnational governments, cities and other local authorities on biodiversity matters

As the Geneva resumed meeting on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is ongoing, ICLEI, a major city network involved closely in the negotiations, and the Geneva Cities Hub, a platform fostering local and regional governments and their networks’ participation in multilateral diplomacy, have organized an informal meeting today at the Villa Rigot to gain support for a proposed …

When the next pandemic comes to a city…

On 16 March 2022, the Geneva Cities Hub organized, in partnership with UN-Habitat, a Geneva Urban Debate to bring to the fore the municipal experiences (Kigali-Rwanda, Madrid-Spain, Niterói-Brazil and Cali-Colombia) that were relevant for the next pandemic in terms of prevention, preparedness and response. During the event, we heard recommendations to develop or revise policies …

Climate change is a global phenomenon. But it is experienced locally.

On 14 March 2022, the Geneva Cities Hub moderated a virtual panel co-organized by the European Union, the Marshall Islands and the Office of the UN High Commissionner on Human Rights on “The human rights impact of climate change : an international and local challenge”. The event provided a voice to local authorities and communities …

UNECE and Geneva Cities Hub strengthen their cooperation for sustainable urban development

From the climate crisis to inequalities, urban areas play an increasingly central role in tackling key sustainable development challenges. Strengthening the connections between city-level actors and facilitating their engagement in international policy debates is therefore vital to scale up innovative approaches based on concrete experience. In this spirit, Sami Kanaan, member of the Executive Council …

Investment at subnational level

On 2 March, the Geneva Cities Hub was invited by R20 to the panel on “Blended finance for infrastructure investment at subnational level”. The event was mainly targeting the finance sector and presenting new opportunities to invest into projects that help address climate change and achieve sustainable development goals. The Geneva Cities Hub was invited …

The Geneva Cities Hub celebrates its 2nd Anniversary!

The past year was full of exciting initiatives. Our flagship event series, the Geneva Urban Debates and the City Diplomacy Events offered great opportunities to discuss with local authorities, member states and international organizations such important issues as the state and future of multilateralism, human rights, sustainable development, economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic, sustainable …

Informal briefing on the urban agenda and related upcoming events

The Geneva Cities Hub (GCH) raised awareness about the important upcoming urban meetings planned in the first half of 2022 at a joint briefing for UN Member States co-organized by UNECE and UN-Habitat. As moderator, the GCH emphasized the need for contribution by all stakeholders, including States, local and regional governments, international organizations and civil …

Informal urban briefing co-convened by the Geneva Cities Hub and UN-Habitat

Fulfilling its role as the urban platform in Geneva, the Geneva Cities Hub (GCH) co-convened an informal urban briefing with UN-Habitat on 7 February 2022 targeting Geneva-based international organizations and international city networks. The objective was to raise awareness, mobilize and engage those stakeholders in view of important upcoming urban meetings in the first half …

The Plastics wrap-trap: what about Cities in inter-states negotiations?

On 24 January 2022, the Geneva Cities Hub, the Geneva Environment Network, and the UN-Habitat Geneva Office, with the support of Norway, convened the first Geneva Urban Debate of 2022 with the purpose of promoting the voice of local and regional governments (LRGs) in the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) proceedings relating to plastics. UNEA is …

Cities & COP26 negotiations

Cities are among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change, but they also are the ones the most impacted by it. Much depends on how they are planned, built and use energy to enable people to live, move and thrive. For many cities, local and regional governments, tackling climate change …