Search

News

Read articles on our activities and inclusive multilateralism in International Geneva

GCH highlights cities’ role at ‘Toxics, zero waste and human rights’ event

During the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, at the event titled “Toxics, Zero Waste, Women, and Human Rights,” the Global Cities Hub emphasized the crucial role of local and regional governments in addressing waste management and inclusiveness policies. The Hub advocated for greater cooperation among UN agencies, such as OHCHR and UNEP, to merge human rights mechanisms with environmental expertise. By fostering mixed mandates the UN could address toxins and waste more effectively, ensuring that LRGs can engage more seamlessly in …

Global Digital Compact and the Guidelines on People-Centred Smart Cities

On 10 September 2024 Global Cities Hub contributed to the consultation with LRGs and representatives of city networks to reflect on the Global Digital Compact and opportunities for its implementation by local actors, while leveraging the first International Guidelines on People-Centred Smart Cities. When international regulations are created LRGs should not only be formally consulted on policy, but they need to …

Cities at the core of WIPO’s Global Innovation Cluster Index 2024

Innovation is one of the key forces that drive economic growth and social progress. To monitor it, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) publishes annually the Global Innovation Index (GII), which also identifies the world’s top 100 science and technology (S&T) clusters. Year after year, these happen to be cities.  The next GII will be launched on 26 September but …

City diplomacy in action

The 4th Forum of Mayors – the Cities’ Summit of the Future starts in one month on 30 September 2024. It is worth recalling the excellent analysis of Paola Deda published by the Geneva Policy Outlook earlier this year about the participation of Mayors in the work of …

We should carve out a bigger space for LRGs in global decision-making

In a recently published WEF Agenda Post GCH argues that LRGs can be agile partners with the capacity to respond quickly in times of economic, health or environmental crisis. Their actions can complement and extend the actions of central governments. They can also help deliver key global goals, such as the SDGs or the Paris …

New dynamics for continued pandemic negotiations, but still no transparency

From 16-17 July 2024, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) tasked to draft a new pandemic agreement met for its 10th session. There was high hope that relevant stakeholders, including the Global Cities Hub, would be allowed from now on to take part as observer in all INB meetings. But this proposal has been strongly pushed back by several delegations.

Plastic Pollution and Human Rights : The Role of Local and Regional Governments

At its 56th session, which ended last week, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted by consensus a procedural decision requesting the Advisory Committee, a think tank body composed of experts, to conduct a three-year study on plastic pollution and its implications for human rights. This decision, put forward by Latin American States, including Ecuador …

How does the Forum of Mayors contribute to transforming global governance and reinvigorating the multilateral system

On 15 July 2024, on the margins of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) the Global Cities Hub co-organized with UNECE an event “How does the Forum of Mayors contributes to transforming global governance and reinvigorating the multilateral system” in New York hosted by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland. The HLPF focuses on the theme “Reinforcing …

Human Rights Council need to engage more with local governments

On 4 July, the Global Cities Hub took part in an event organized by Chile, Egypt, the Republic of Korea, Romania and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to share the conclusions and discuss the implementation of recommendations contained in the OHCHR report (A/HRC/56/32) submitted at this current session (56th) …