On 4-5 November 2025, the 20th Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS 2025) gathered global leaders, national policymakers, local and regional governments, mayors, and sustainability experts at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her opening remarks, Pr. Celeste Saulo, Secretary General of WMO, recalled that cooperation with national authorities and local communities can bring effective solutions to anticipate extreme heat, floods and deadly weather events. Preparing urban heat resilience plans are essential to build resilient and sustainable cities \u2013 as the example of Buenos Aires shows. The event stimulated a rich discussion among the different levels of government, addressing various issues from nature-based solutions to the use of digital technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The High-Level Dialogue \u201cInvigorate innovation and leadership towards greener and smarter cities\u201d explored how innovation, science, and technology can drive the transition toward resilient, circular, and sustainable cities. GCH co-director Duong emphasized that cities\u2019 experiences and innovations needed to inform international debates, to ensure that States\u2019 decisions consider the realities and the needs of cities when defining the future our climate (e.g. at COP30). Bringing together local leaders from three continents and representatives of international organizations, the High-Level dialogue highlighted practical approaches to leveraging AI, digital tools, and nature-based solutions for greener urban futures. Panelists focused on scaling local innovation, strengthening multi-stakeholder collaboration, and advancing inclusive governance to achieve global sustainability and resilience goals. The local policies presented by Budapest, Dubai, Tianjin Eco-City, and Penang Island were considered as scalable good practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n