At COP30 in Belém, UN-Habitat played a central role in advancing the urban climate agenda by convening the Fourth Ministerial Meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change, co-hosting the Cities and Regions Hub, and supporting countries in aligning urban priorities with their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Through high-level engagements, technical sessions, and new knowledge products, UN-Habitat highlighted key issues such as local implementation, housing, informal settlements, multilevel governance, and urban climate finance in global climate discussions.
The Fourth Ministerial Meeting reaffirmed that achieving the Paris Agreement’s goals depends on strong local and multilevel action, with participation from 17 ministers, 21 governors and mayors, and 30 international institutions. For the first time at a COP, leaders recognized that upgrading informal settlements and improving basic services are core components of climate resilience and adaptation. The Chair of the Ministerial Meeting identified eight areas for strengthening the climate-urban agenda, including institutionalizing the Ministerial Meeting, increasing local government participation in the UNFCCC process, aligning NDCs with urban realities, and advancing climate finance for city-scale projects. Updates on progress will be shared at the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum in Baku in 2026.
UN-Habitat’s analysis shows that NDCs 3.0 now demonstrate the strongest urban alignment to date, with urban content nearly doubling and multilevel governance referenced in two-thirds of submissions. Cities and regions showcased their leadership and readiness to scale action through 46 events and over 200 speakers at the Cities & Regions Hub, sharing practical solutions on heat, flooding, water security, mobility, nature-based solutions, waste management, and project preparation. COP30 reinforced the importance of multilevel governance, emphasizing that national ambition must be matched with local delivery capacity.
Advancing local climate finance emerged as a pressing priority, with discussions highlighting the need for accessible pathways for city-scale projects, particularly in informal and vulnerable communities. Sessions also emphasized integrating adaptation, nature, land, and people through nature-based solutions, resilient land use, and secure housing within climate policy frameworks, including the Global Goal on Adaptation. The forthcoming IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities was recognized as crucial for strengthening the science-policy-action interface and informing future urban climate planning.
UN-Habitat concluded COP30 with reinforced commitment to supporting countries in local climate implementation. Member States and local governments stressed the need for assistance in NDC implementation for urban and local impact, and new partnerships are emerging to advance planning, finance, and implementation of sustainable urban climate solutions.
