As countries prepare for COP31, attention is turning from climate commitments to how they can be translated into action. Much of that implementation will happen in cities, where decisions on housing, transport, infrastructure, land use and public services shape emissions, resilience and quality of life.
The 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26), co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), brought together city and national governments, researchers, practitioners, businesses, young people and community representatives to exchange knowledge and practical experience on urban climate action.
The conference highlighted ten key messages that can help inform efforts to accelerate climate action in cities in the lead-up to COP31 and beyond.
Key messages from I4C26
1. Climate and development must move together.
Cities are where climate and development priorities converge. Integrating the two is essential to building climate-resilient, inclusive and prosperous urban futures.
2. Cities are already leading the way.
Across regions, sizes and contexts, local leaders are already implementing practical, innovative and scalable responses to climate challenges. Their experience offers lessons that can be shared and replicated elsewhere.
3. Young people are shaping climate action.
Strong youth engagement throughout I4C26, from technical sessions to high-level discussions, showed that young people are not only calling for climate action but actively contributing as decision makers, innovators and implementers.
4. Technology must serve people.
Data, digital tools and artificial intelligence can support better climate action, but technology must remain grounded in people's needs and local realities. Combining digital innovation with behavioural science and locally relevant storytelling can help build the trust and ownership needed for lasting change.
5. African cities are helping shape the global agenda.
Urban climate solutions must reflect diverse experiences and contexts. Hosting I4C26 in Nairobi underscored the importance of African leadership and knowledge in shaping the global conversation on urban climate action.
6. Housing is climate action.
A people-centred approach to climate action begins where people live. Safe, affordable and resilient housing can help reduce climate vulnerability while advancing social equity and sustainable urban development.
7. Climate finance must reach cities.
Bridging the gap between global climate finance and local urban realities remains an urgent priority. As countries prepare their next round of nationally determined contributions (NDCs 3.0), finance systems need to enable resources to reach the cities and communities responsible for implementing climate action on the ground.
8. The IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities is a landmark opportunity.
The forthcoming Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (SRCities) will provide a major scientific assessment of the relationship between cities and climate change. Its impact will depend on continued collaboration to translate scientific knowledge into policies, investment and action.
9. Practical solutions matter.
Cities need ways to move from knowledge to implementation more quickly. I4C26 highlighted the value of sharing experience, learning from what has worked and what has not, and replicating successful interventions at scale.
10. Collaboration is the catalyst for change.
No single institution, sector or discipline can address the urban climate challenge alone. Strong partnerships between governments, researchers, businesses, communities and other stakeholders are essential to accelerating action.
Looking ahead to COP31 and beyond
The discussions at I4C26 reinforced the central role of cities in turning climate ambition into implementation. As countries prepare for COP31, the conference's insights, partnerships and practical solutions can help inform efforts to strengthen urban climate action and connect national commitments with action on the ground.
Beyond COP31, the publication of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities in 2027 will provide an important opportunity to strengthen the scientific foundation for urban climate action. Through the Innovate4Cities platform, UN-Habitat and its partners will continue supporting dialogue between science, policy and practice in the lead-up to the report and beyond.
Cover photo: Residents of flood-prone Mathare, Nairobi, participate in community-led climate resilience efforts, including urban gardening and local environmental improvements. Nairobi hosted the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference, where participants discussed how cities can accelerate climate action through locally grounded solutions and stronger community engagement. © Schuyler Null/WRI