In a groundbreaking move at COP28, the COP28 Presidency, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, has rallied leaders from around the world to endorse the ‘Joint Outcome Statement on Urbanisation and Climate Change.’ This statement, supported by over 40 Ministers of Environment, Urban Development, and Housing, was unveiled during the second Ministerial Meeting on Urbanisation and Climate Change.
The Statement, a ten-point plan, charts a new course by emphasising the crucial role of cities in the fight against climate change. It calls for a comprehensive approach to decision-making, urging ministers to integrate climate action across all levels of government and collaborate with subnational entities on designing and implementing climate plans and policies. The COP28 Presidency reinforced its call for national governments to engage in multilevel climate action, emphasising the need for collaboration ahead of COP30 in 2025, especially concerning the formulation of new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 President, declared, “COP28 is a paradigm shift to action. We are empowering and supporting cities on the frontlines of climate change to seize the initiative.” He highlighted the importance of including voices from local governments, bringing over 450 mayors and governors to COP28 to share their hyperlocal knowledge in crafting global solutions.
The Statement addresses the pressing challenges faced by cities, where as many as 90 percent are threatened by rising sea levels and storms. Residents endure temperatures ten degrees higher than their rural counterparts. The call to action is clear – cities need to be prepared and supported to respond to the climate crisis.
Dr Al Jaber emphasised the global nature of the issue, stating, “Each city has individual needs and solutions, but fundamentally this is a global problem.” The Statement is a testament to the collaborative effort, with input from over 1,000 mayors and governors at COP28, embodying the spirit of inclusivity in the fight against climate change.
The ‘Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships’ (CHAMP), launched at the Local Climate Action Summit during COP28, underpins the Statement. CHAMP aims to inform and empower ministers, identifying ways to accelerate the deployment of climate finance to support cities and local governments. Over 60 national governments have already endorsed CHAMP.
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, highlighted the importance of the Ministerial Meeting, calling it a “key moment in our work toward inclusive and climate-resilient cities and communities.” She emphasised the diverse stakeholders present, representing national and local levels, all committed to supporting urban environments in withstanding climate challenges.
Despite cities contributing over 70% of CO2 emissions, immediate action could bring their emissions close to net-zero. However, finance remains a bottleneck, with only 21% of climate finance allocated to adaptation and resilience, and a mere 10% reaching the local level.
