The 1st session of the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance opened on 6 July 2026 in Geneva. The Global Dialogue aims to provide a platform for exchanging experiences, perspectives, and ongoing initiatives related to AI governance and to advance global discussions on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.
At the UN Human Rights Council side event on peaceful protest, the GCH argued that the recognition of the role of local and regional governments (LRGs) needs strengthening. As LRGs make practical decisions on crowd management, public safety, and policing, GCH proposed the creation of a concise guide for officials to ensure human rights-compliant protest management.
Today, the Global Cities Hub (GCH) and the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, reaffirming a partnership driven by a shared conviction: cities and local and regional governments have a vital role to play in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity.
The GCH co-organised, together with the Geneva Human Rights Hub and partners, an event marking the 20th of the UN Human Rights Council. The event highlighted that participation is not an end in itself. Does broader engagement help the HRC achieve greater impact through stronger implementation, more effective follow-up and better prevention of human rights violations?
The Global Cities Hub (GCH) organized two discussions and launched its new policy paper on artificial intelligence (AI) and the citiverse. Cities are entering a new digital phase driven by AI and immersive digital environments. How can they address these challenges? How can they prepare for the transformation that these new technologies unlock?
How can cities make their voices heard in global governance and work together to tackle increasingly complex challenges? One answer is international city networks. The Mayors for Digital Cooperation (MDC) is a new global network aimed at strengthening the role of cities in digital governance and localizing the implementation of international digital commitments.
At a historic Urban7 meeting in Nancy, mayors delivered a strong political message to G7 leaders ahead of the Évian Summit: empowering cities leads to more effective, inclusive and accountable public action, particularly in times of crisis and rapid transformation. U7 members called on G7 leaders to institutionalise dialogue with cities and local governments.
On 2 June 2026 the Global Cities Hub and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Center co-hosted an event to mark Heat Action Day. How does Cape Town consider heat in its policies and programmes? What tools do international organizations have for local and regional governments to combat extreme heat? How can cities mitigate workplace heat stress?
Organized by the GCH on the margins of the 79th World Health Assembly, the event “Climate change, health and cities: From global commitments to local impact” explored how cities can help translate global commitments taken by States in the WHO Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health into concrete action on the ground.
The Global Cities Hub will participate at the 13th World Urban Forum. As one of the leading global gatherings on sustainable urbanization, WUF offers a platform to exchange experiences, strengthen multilevel cooperation and advance solutions for the future of cities. We are looking forward to an inspiring and action-oriented WUF, with the engagement of LRGs.
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