Geneva will host the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-5.2). The LSNG Coalition has mobilized ahead of the event to ensure that local and regional governments are heard.
On the occasion of the adoption of the report of the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Italy at the United Nations in Geneva on 30 June 2025, a reception was held at the Global Cities Hub. It offered a moment to celebrate the closing of Italy’s fourth UPR cycle and to highlight Italian-led initiatives aimed at strengthening local engagement in human rights.
The Global Cities Hub participated in the Mayors’ Summit organized by Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. The event brought together city leaders from across the globe and served both as a celebration of progress and a mobilization ahead of COP30 in December 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
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.
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