The Global Cities Hub (GCH) connects cities and local and regional governments to International Geneva’s ecosystem, which includes the United Nations, other international organizations, representatives of States, and a wide range of academic and civil society actors.
Our three main objectives
- We facilite participation. We help cities and city networks to contribute to multilateral processes.
- We build partnerships. We help cities and city networks to create relationships with international organizations and other actors in Geneva.
- We highlight urban concerns. We provide a space in which Geneva-based actors can discuss urban issues and increase the impact of their work.
Cities and local and regional governments
In 1950, one third of the world’s people lived in urban areas. Today more than half do so, and by 2050 that number will rise to around 70% (see UN World Urbanization Prospects: The 2018 Revision). In 2000, 371 cities had more than one million inhabitants; by 2030, 706 cities are expected to have reached this size (see The World’s Cities in 2018, Data booklet, p. 2).
It is widely recognized that cities play a key role in efforts to tackle climate change, pandemics, disasters, unemployment, migration and other global challenges. Because they are often the first to respond, cities’ voices need to be heard at every level.
The term “city” can refer to an urban space, to urban communities that live in that space, and to the authorities that govern those communities. GCH works specifically with the authorities that represent and speak for cities and local and regional governments: mayors, governors, and the presidents of regions and provinces.
The Global Cities Hub was set up to increase the contributions of cities and local and regional governments to international discussions that take place in Geneva. Established in 2020 by the City of Geneva and the Canton of Geneva, with the support of the Swiss Confederation, GCH is an association under Swiss law.
Geneva
International Geneva hosts an exceptional number of international organizations, States, NGOs, academic institutions and private companies. These actors meet regularly and work on a wide range of topics, including peace, security and disarmament, humanitarian law and action, human rights, migration, labour, economics, trade, health, science, the environment, sustainable development, and telecommunications.
An increasing number of local and regional governments participate in the Forum of Mayors and other multilateral meetings in Geneva, to share their own experience or obtain technical expertise. They are also increasingly solicited by UN agencies and other actors, who recognize the vital contribution they make to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.
GCH works to enhance the status of cities and local and regional governments and their influence in global governance.