The Global Cities Hub, in partnership with UN-Habitat and the Global Parliament of Mayors co-organized a Geneva Urban Debate, focused on the newly adopted pandemic treaty and its implications for local and regional governments. With cities having been the epicentres of the COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion explored how urban authorities can leverage this global instrument to better prepare for future health crises.
The GCH new President is Ms. Christina Kitsos, Deputy Mayor of the City of Geneva. We are looking forward to working with her to ensure that local and regional governments become actors in international processes!
We thank our outgoing President, Mr. Sami Kanaan, whose vision of a multilateralism inclusive of local and regional governments shaped the GCH and his committment helped make the UN Forum of Mayors a reality.
Over 3,000 participants gathered in Geneva last week for the 8th session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR). It featured a diverse program of sessions and side-events, with a strong emphasis on the role of local and regional governments in disaster risk reduction.
The Global Cities Hub joined the Geneva Environment Network and the other actors of International Geneva to celebrate World Environment Day. We highlighted the key role of local and regional governments (LRGs) in fighting plastic pollution, this year’s World Environment Day theme.
On the eve of Heat Action Day (2 June) the Global Cities Hub, in partnership with the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, convened an online event titled Cities Beat the Heat. The event spotlighted how the phenomenon of extreme heat needs to be examined through an urban lens and how cities, often bearing the brunt of climate change, are pioneering solutions to extreme heat. It underscored the urgent need for data-driven, inclusive, collaborative and actionable urban heat adaptation.
Join the Global Cities Hub in celebrating World Environment Day 2025! Answer the question “How are you fighting against plastic pollution?” by posting on social media with the hashtag #CitiesAgainstPlastics and tag us!
The Global Cities Hub is intensifying its work in the field of environmental diplomacy, recognizing the growing interest of cities and regions to participate actively in international discussions and decision-making.
On 12 May 2025, the Global Cities Hub (GCH) had the honour of welcoming Mayor Anne Hidalgo to Geneva. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity to present the GCH’s mission to better connect local and regional governments (LRGs) to United Nations, as well as other international organizations based in Geneva and beyond.
The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) – the three core multilateral environmental agreements governing hazardous chemicals and waste – held their joint Conferences of the Parties (COPs) over the past two weeks (28 April-9 May) in Geneva.
On 7 May 2025, UN-Habitat, WHO, and GCH partnered to organize the workshop “Addressing Urban Health Challenges in a Changing World” to drive forward collaborative action on urban development and public health. The GCH was thrilled to host this inter-agency workshop that gave the opportunity for LRGs to be part of this future oriented policy-discussion from the beginning. Inclusive multilateralism is the best way forward to find the right solutions at the intersection of housing and urban health.
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