Nairobi, 28 September 2026 — UN-Habitat and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) have opened a call for expressions of interest from national governments, GCoM signatory cities and local academic or research institutions to host the 2028 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C28). Expressions of interest must be submitted by 21 October 2026.

Co-convened by UN-Habitat and GCoM, the Innovate4Cities Conference brings together researchers, policymakers, city leaders, financiers and practitioners working at the intersection of urban climate science, policy and action. The 2028 edition will build on the conference’s role in connecting urban climate knowledge with decision-making and practical action.

Connecting urban climate knowledge with action

Cities and local governments are on the front lines of climate change, experiencing its impacts while playing a central role in translating global commitments into action. Effective and inclusive urban climate action depends on cooperation across levels of government, scientific evidence, financing and engagement with communities and other stakeholders.

Innovate4Cities Conferences bring together those generating evidence, making decisions, shaping policy, financing solutions and implementing urban climate action. By connecting science, policy and practice, the conferences aim to identify emerging knowledge, address research gaps and advance locally relevant solutions that can inform national and global climate agendas.

City leaders, researchers, innovators, and climate experts gather in Nairobi, Kenya, from 21 to 24 June 2026 for the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26), co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. © UN-Habitat/ Jessica Jones-Langley 

The most recent edition, I4C26, brought Innovate4Cities to Africa for the first time when it was held in Nairobi in 2026. It attracted almost 5,000 online registrations and 1,200 in-person participants across 128 sessions. The programme included an in-person review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, an AI x City Climate Action Hackathon and a Local Leaders Forum, alongside dialogue with Member States.

A significant moment for cities and climate change

I4C28 will take place following the planned approval of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities in 2027. The report is expected to provide new scientific evidence on cities and climate change. The 2028 conference will also coincide with the conclusion of the second Global Stocktake, which will assess progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.

The 2028 conference will also mark the tenth anniversary of the Global Research and Action Agenda (GRAA), which has guided knowledge and action priorities for the Innovate4Cities conferences since 2018.

Against this backdrop, I4C28 will provide a platform to examine how urban climate knowledge can inform policy, investment and practical action. It will also bring regional and international expertise together, creating opportunities for engagement among cities, researchers, funders, industry and other partners working on climate action.

How to apply

Expressions of interest may be led by national governments, GCoM signatory cities or local academic or research institutions. Consortium applications are encouraged, and all expressions of interest should be supported by the relevant national government.

At this initial stage, interested candidates only need to indicate their intention to enter the selection process; a detailed proposal is not required.

Expressions of interest must be submitted through an official communication on institutional letterhead, with a signature, to unhabitat-climate@un.org and innovate4cities@gcomprojectsupport.org by 21 October 2026.

Further information on detailed proposal requirements will be shared with candidates who submit an expression of interest.

Cover photo: © Shutterstock