How can cities localize the twin transition?

In short…

• Cities turn global ambitions into local action through digital twins
• From climate action to digital innovation, local and regional governments are turning the twin transition into tangible solutions that improve people’s everyday lives.

At the WSIS Forum 2026, GCH organized the High-Level Dialogue: Mayors – Localizing the Twin Transition. The session brought together local and regional leaders, international organizations, and experts to discuss how the twin transition can be translated from global policy ambitions into practical pathways that reflect local realities.

During the dialogue, participants emphasized the importance of integrating people-centred strategies that combine digital innovation, sustainability, and inclusive governance. Examples such as the Senseable City Rio Lab, which uses visual artificial intelligence to analyse informal settlements and develop solutions to improve the quality of life, were highlighted. Reflecting on how collaboration between international organizations and local and regional governments (LRGs) can be strengthened, Ms. Tatiana Roque, Councillor for Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, stated: “LRGs should act as co-designers of indicators and recommendations, not just as implementers of decisions taken at higher levels. This would make the solutions more coherent with local contexts”.

Mr. Zakaria Oulad, Councillor of Agadir, underscored the city’s use of AI in governance to strengthen equity and ensure that technology does not reproduce existing inequalities. Mr. Octavi de la Varga Mas, Director of International Affairs at the Province of Barcelona, further highlighted the importance of digital twins in improving the efficiency of public services, such as water systems and waste management. Finally, Ms. Karen Lassmann, Head of Smart City and Data Management of Berlin presented the important role that smart cities play in finding solutions to ensure an equitable and human-centred twin transition.

The international perspective was represented by Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, and Mr. Siva Somasundram, Director of Policy, Regulation and Markets at the UPU. Their interventions highlighted how international organizations are supporting cities through knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, financing, and the promotion of open and interoperable digital solutions. Mr. Siva Somasundram underscored the current support that postal services are contributing for the digital transformation. With the support of LRGs, postal services are able to support evidence-based policymaking, for instance, by using their transport networks to obtain environmental data. As highlighted during the discussion by Ms. Rossbach, “There are currently around one billion people who are facing urban exclusion and are not part of the data used in policy-making. It is important to guarantee their involvement and use AI to reach more democratic solutions that involve everyone in the system.”

Throughout the session, GCH Senior Policy Advisor and moderator Dr. Andras Szorenyi emphasized the role of international cooperation and the involvement of LRGs, as well as the importance of sharing examples and solutions. The dialogue stressed the role of cities in translating global agendas into local impact and contributing to global policymaking with local expertise. GCH remains committed to strengthening the role of LRGs in international processes by fostering dialogue, facilitating knowledge exchange, and promoting partnerships that enable cities to lead a people-centred, inclusive, and sustainable twin transition.

Thank you for the amazing speakers representing LRGs for their insights:

• Zakaria Oulad, Councillor of Agadir, Morocco, Vice-President of the Urban Planning & Smart City Commission and Co-President of the AIMF Commission on Innovative, Intelligent and Responsible Cities
• Karen Lassmann, Head of Smart City and Data Management at the Senate Chancellery of Berlin, Germany
• Tatiana Roque, Councillor for Science and Technology of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Octavi de la Varga Mas, Director of International Affairs, Province of Barcelona