GCH at the UN HLPF!

In short…

• The GCH took part in the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), highlighting the essential role of local and regional governments (LRGs) in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities.
• Switzerland and Italy have set an important precedent by including city representatives in their national delegation, reaffirming that implementing the 2030 Agenda requires coordinated action across all levels of government.

The GCH participated in the 2026 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York, where UN Member States reviewed progress towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s HLPF places particular emphasis on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), recognizing the central role of cities in advancing sustainable development. SDG 11 was also at the heart of the HLPF event moderated by the GCH on 10 July.

Achieving the SDGs requires more than national commitments alone. As envisioned by the 2030 Agenda, adopted in 2015, implementation depends on the active engagement of the whole of society. Local and regional governments (LRGs) play a critical role in translating global ambitions into concrete actions that improve people’s daily lives. Their ownership of the SDGs is therefore essential to ensuring that the 2030 Agenda is effectively implemented on the ground.

The HLPF provides an important platform to strengthen the contribution of LRGs to the global sustainable development agenda, while showcasing innovative local solutions. This year, both Italy and Switzerland demonstrated their commitment to multi-level governance by including representatives of LRGs in their national delegations to the HLPF, underlining the indispensable contribution of cities and regions to achieving the SDGs, particularly SDG 11. For the first time, the Swiss delegation included representatives from the cities of Basel, Bern and Geneva, reaffirming that implementing the 2030 Agenda is a shared responsibility requiring collective action across all levels of government.

As part of the presentation of Switzerland’s Voluntary National Review (VNR), Christina Kitsos, Mayor of Geneva and President of the GCH, presented Geneva’s Voluntary Local Review (VLR), highlighting the city’s initiatives to advance the SDGs at the local level. She also reaffirmed Geneva’s ambition to strengthen the connection between the local and the global, notably through the UN Forum of Mayors, which serves as a key platform for fostering effective multi-level cooperation. The GCH, an official partner of the FoM, is committed to supporting the Forum to ensure the voice of local governments is heard at the international level.

Christina Kitsos also spoke at the LRGs’ Forum, held annually alongside the HLPF. The Forum brings together representatives of LRGs, UN entities and some Member States to discuss progress and challenges in implementing the SDGs at the local level. Alongside representatives from the cities of New York, Nouakchott, Heidelberg (Chair of the UN Forum of Mayors) and Al Madinah, among others, the GCH President stressed that cities should not only be regarded as implementation stakeholders but also recognized as full-fledged partners within the multilateral system.

As the implementation of the 2030 Agenda enters a decisive phase (with discussions on the post-2030 agenda expected to begin next year), continuing to strengthen the participation of LRGs in international processes will be essential to advancing inclusive multilateralism and ensuring that the voices and expertise of cities help shape the future of global governance to advance sustainable development.