UNEA-7: advancing multilevel cooperation for a resilient planet

The Global Cities Hub (GCH) actively participated in the 7^th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), the world’s highest-level decision-making body on environmental matters. UNEA-7 took place from 8 to 12 December 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet.”

Throughout the Assembly, the GCH consistently highlighted the critical role of local and regional governments (LRGs) in addressing environmental challenges and accelerating climate action. In particular, GCH:

• Organized and contributed to two high-level events: the Cities and Regions Summit and an official side event on urban extreme heat
• Strengthened the role and visibility of the Local Authorities Major Group (LAMG), in close collaboration with ICLEI and UCLG
• Advocated for the “localization” of multilateral environmental agreements, building on the experience of SDG localization (see GCH news here)
• Engaged with key local, national and international partners
• Contributed to State-led negotiations on the Ministerial Outcome Declaration and relevant UNEA resolutions
• Delivered multiple statements underscoring the leadership of LRGs in developing innovative, place-based solutions to protect the environment and adapt to climate change

Cities and Regions Summit: Strengthening the Role of LRGs in Environmental Governance

UNEA-7 was preceded by the Cities and Regions Summit, which convened mayors, regional leaders, and urban sustainability experts to address pressing global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The 2025 theme, “Global Ambition, Local Action,” emphasized the indispensable role of LRGs in translating global environmental commitments into tangible outcomes on the ground.

Two key messages emerged from the Summit:

1. Empowering cities and regions is essential to turn global environmental ambition into action.
2. Multilevel governance and improved access to finance are critical to enable cross-sectoral solutions, deliver multiple co-benefits, and scale up sustainable practices.

During the Summit, GCH, together with Switzerland, organized a panel discussion exploring opportunities for LRGs to engage more effectively in the international environmental governance system.

The recording of the event is available here (starts at 07:38:00). Photos of the Cities and Regions Summit are available here. Read the opening remarks of UNEP Executive Director here.

Side-event: Beating the Heat in urban centres

On 8 December, the Global Cities Hub and the UN Environment Programme co-organized the official UNEA-7 side event “Beat the Heat: Local and Regional Action for a Resilient Planet.” Opening the event, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen reaffirmed their organizations’ strong commitment to addressing extreme heat, one of the most urgent and complex global challenges.

Inspired by Brazil’s COP30-launched Global Mutirão Against Extreme Heat initiative, the discussion emphasized that extreme heat is no longer solely a climate issue, but also a major concern for public health, energy systems, urban planning, social equity, and governance. Speakers highlighted the need for whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, and shared concrete, pragmatic solutions, including solar-powered hospitals in extreme-heat environments, fire-buffer zones and heat-resilient land-use planning to reduce wildfire risks, and practical tools for heat-risk assessment to inform urban policy and emergency response.

Participants also stressed that global climate governance, finance, technology transfer, and reporting mechanisms remain largely state-centric. Without adequate national support, cities often face legal, fiscal, and policy barriers, while international organizations are constrained by mandates to work primarily through Member States. All speakers therefore called for a more coherent and holistic framework that strengthens coordination across all levels of government and enables cities to act effectively with the full support of their States.

The recording of the event is available here.

Strengthening the Voice of Local Authorities through the LAMG

Among the nine official stakeholder groups participating at UNEA-7, the Local Authorities Major Group (LAMG) represented local and regional governments from all regions and remains the principal institutional channel for LRG engagement in environmental multilateralism.

The Global Cities Hub played an active role in strengthening the LAMG’s positioning throughout UNEA-7, speaking on its behalf at key moments, including the Major Group meeting on 6 December, a debrief with UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen and the UNEA President, a press conference on 9 December, and during dedicated dialogues on multilateral environmental agreements and SDG implementation.

In the outcome document of the Cities and Regions Summit, the LAMG called on UNEA Member States to reform the global financial architecture to enable localized and inclusive environmental finance; institutionalize multilevel environmental governance; integrate environment, climate, nature, and people through place-based action; elevate subnational diplomacy and partnerships for implementation; and advance a just transition. Read more here.

Photo: UNEP/Alyona Synenko