November 4-7, 2024 | UCLG ASPAC was actively involved at the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12), fostering global dialogue, collaboration, and practical solutions for urban sustainability, climate resilience, and innovative governance. UCLG ASPAC, under the framework of the Urban-Act Project, facilitated its 14 Urban-Act pilot cities to participate in the various insightful events and discussion platforms in WUF12.
World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments (WALRG Assembly). Organised by UCLG World, the Global Taskforce, and UN-Habitat, the WALRG Assembly emphasised that local and regional governments are not just implementers of global agendas, but leaders of transformative change and co-creators of innovative solutions. Mr. Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague and UCLG President, emphasised the necessity of establishing a “global social agenda rooted in equity and care”, underscoring the importance of a financial system that prioritises local public investments to achieve sustainable progress. Ms. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, called for a “new multilateral system” that strengthens the voices of local and regional governments. Dr. Hesham Elhelbawy, Egypt’s Assistant Minister of Local Development, praised the assembly’s efforts to advance the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting its critical role in empowering cities to deliver transformative solutions.
The Dialogue on Local SDG Rescue Plan, chaired by UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi with distinguished panel of leaders, including Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu (Mayor of Istanbul), Ms. Fatimetou Abdel Malick (Governor of Nouakchott), Mr. Patricio Maldonado (Mayor of Nabón); and Ms. Maria Eugenia Gay (Vice President of the Barcelona Provincial Council). Key insights included the importance of inclusive services to ensure equitable access, which fosters peace and sustainability; community engagement, particularly by empowering youth and women, who are vital contributors to urban growth and environmental solutions; and the value of collaboration, with peer-to-peer partnerships enhancing critical sectors such as water and sanitation. Together, these approaches underscored the transformative potential of local leadership in advancing global development goals.
The assembly culminated in a call to action delivered through the Joint Statement of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments. The UCLG Secretary General Ms. Emilia Saiz emphasised the importance of acknowledging local governments as the true voice of their communities and pivotal agents in advancing sustainable development.
UCLG ASPAC, in collaboration with GIZ, co-organised a networking event between Urban-Act cities and other cities highlighting “Empowering Climate-conscious Cities – Mainstreaming Climate Action into Urban Planning: Solutions from the Global South.” UCLG ASPAC Secretary General Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi opened the session with a powerful call to action, emphasising the urgent need to act in the face of climate change. She highlighted that it is no longer enough to discuss climate solutions and that we must move forward with concrete actions.
The event featured an Urban Climate Solutions Market Square, where participants explored a range of city-led initiatives, including: Participatory and climate-resilient master plan (Mr. Benedito Coroba, Mayor of Itapecuru-Mirim, Brazil), Neighborhood strategy for sustainable urban growth (Mr. Said Chuc Yam, Head of Planning and Information Systems, City of Mérida, Mexico), Greening micro-mobility to transition to a low-carbon city (Ms. Rowena T. Zapanta, City Planning and Development Coordinator, City of Antipolo, the Philippines), Green and blue park projects aimed at climate resilience (Mr. Élcio Batista, Vice Mayor, City of Fortaleza, Brazil), Greening the city for a climate-resilient future (Representatives from GIZ Urban-Act project, Soma Biswas and Ravi Kumar, Coimbatore, India).
The event also featured interactive sessions, including a Bingo game that allowed participants to network and connect. Additionally, a fishbowl discussion on “Mainstreaming Climate Action into Urban Planning” provided a platform for deeper discussions on the challenges of implementing climate solutions at the city level, as well as strategies for engaging communities in urban climate actions while ensuring inclusivity and gender-sensitivity. The session concluded by highlighting the importance of collaboration in integrating climate action into urban planning. Through city-led initiatives and case studies, the event showcased how local governments in the Global South are leading the way in climate resilience and sustainable development. The focus on gender-responsive, pro-poor strategies and the interactive networking sessions encouraged peer learning, inspiring cities to adopt innovative solutions for a sustainable, climate-resilient future.
Climate Finance for Cities: Urban-Act Training Event, co-organised by ESCAP with consortium partners of the Urban-Act project and in collaboration with the University of Melbourne. Focused on making city-level climate projects more appealing to potential investors and unlocking access to various climate finance opportunities, the event was attended by approximately 45 participants. Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Curt Garrigan, Chief of the Sustainable Urban Development Section at UN-ESCAP, and Mr. Heinrich Gudenus, Urban-Act Project Director. The expert panel was moderated by Mr. Omar Siddique from UN-ESCAP, featured prominent figures from the climate finance sector, including Ms. Maryke van Staden, Director of Carbon Climate Centre – ICLEI; and Ms. Margot De Groot van Embden, Policy Advisor on Innovative Finance at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs; Ms. Shaden Al Galaly, Gap Fund City Advisor for Middle East and North Africa.
Discussions showcased various initiatives including Greening Micro Mobility Toward a Low-Carbon City Centre(Antipolo), Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management through Segregation and Resource Recovery (Padang), Enhancing Community-Based Waste Management Infrastructure through TPS3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Waste Processing Sites), Maggot Centres, and Recycling Centres (Medan), Developing a Sustainable Model for Managing Construction and Demolition Waste in the Himalayas (Shimla), Hybrid Nature-based Solutions for Water Management (Panaji), Sponge City as a Nature-based Solution for Urban Water Management (Khon Kaen). Fostering a deeper understanding of climate finance mechanisms, the event empowered cities to address the challenges of financing climate initiatives, contributing to the overarching goal of low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development.
UCLG ASPAC, in partnership with CDIA-ADB, UNCDF, and CDP, organised a networking event “Bridging the Gap: Matchmaking Between Cities and Investors for Climate Action.” The event connected cities with climate plans to financial partners who can help bring these initiatives to life, addressing the critical funding gap in climate action. Key feature of the event was the project pitching session, moderated by Ms. Emilie Becault, Senior Manager, Climate Finance for Cities, States and Regions, CDP; financial partners by Mr. Simon Stevens, Head of Green Cities and Infrastructure Team, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Mr. Stefan Rau, Principal Urban Development Specialist, ADB and Ms. Jiao Tang, Chief Operating Officer, Catalytic Finance Foundation. Cities pitching their climate initiatives including Urban Greenway Network project (Dr. Mary Jean L. Ramos, City Planning and Development Coordinator, Bacolod City, Philippines), Integrated Wastewater Management project for Sipin Lake (Mariani Yanti, PhD, Head of the Tourism & Culture Department, Jambi City, Indonesia), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project focused on street lighting and maximising clean water coverage (M. Kali Hamzah Siregar, Senior Urban Planner, Medan City, Indonesia), Reducing heat-related illnesses by developing smart plans using IoT-based microclimate data (Ms. Patricia Menezes, Mayor’s Office Advisor, Barcarena City, Brazil), Circular economy for green initiative & environment sustainability (Mr. Ahmad Zaiyadi Bin Sudin, Head Department of Enforcement, Ipoh City, Malaysia).
The event also featured a fireside chat, where experts engaged in a discussion about the barriers to attracting climate financing, improving readiness for funding, and the opportunities and criteria for investments. The session included insights from Dr. Brian Roberts, Director of Urban Frontiers, and Ms. Chencho Dorjee, Programme Manager of Smart Green ASEAN Cities at UNCDF. The event successfully advanced the conversation between cities and financial partners. This exchange laid the foundation for future collaborations to accelerate the implementation of sustainable urban climate initiatives.
“Enabling Urban Resilience: Training for Cities to Enhance Their Access to Climate Finance”, a comprehensive training session organised by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and in partnership with UCLG ASPAC, CDP, SIF, and UNCDF to equip city officials with the essential knowledge and tools needed to unlock new opportunities for climate finance.
Insights shared included: 1) Dr. Brian Roberts, Director of Urban Frontiers highlighting key challenges faced by local governments in securing climate finance, including limited institutional capacity and the complexity of navigating funding mechanisms; 2) Ms. Okju Jeong, Climate Change Specialist at ADB, introduced the Resilience Framework, emphasising a holistic approach that integrates ecosystems, infrastructure, financial mechanisms, and social and institutional considerations into planning; 3) Ms. Kathleen Jovellanos from CDIA presented the City Infrastructure Investment Programming and Prioritisation (CIIPP) toolkit, to help cities prepare and prioritise bankable projects, supported by case studies and strategies to enhance project viability; 4) Mr. Cedric Van Riel of Sustainable Infrastructure Foundation (SIF) showcased the SOURCE platform, a resource for implementing best practices in infrastructure project development and refining proposals to attract investors. Key highlight of the training was a project-pitching session where representatives presented their climate initiatives to a panel of funders and investors including three Urban-Act pilot cities: Ms. Noriani Roslan, Mayor, Klang City (Malaysia); Mr. Bhupender Kumar, Commissioner, Shimla City (India); Mr. Munif Treish, Al Bireh (State of Palestine); Ms. Mariani Yanti, Head of Tourism and Culture Department, Jambi City (Indonesia); Dr. Didi Aryadi, Assistant Mayor II, Economic and Development, Padang City (Indonesia); Mr. Kali Hamzah Siregar, Medan City (Indonesia).
Financial experts, including Engr. Sylvia Emeel (Orascom Construction Ltd), Ramola Naik Singru (ADB), Cedric Van Riel (SIF), and Simon Stevens (UK Investment Climate and Infrastructure/FCDO), provided immediate feedback, offering guidance to refine proposals and explore funding pathways. By connecting cities with financial partners and equipping them with practical tools and strategies, the training session effectively bridged the gap between urban climate initiatives and accessible funding. This initiative laid a strong foundation for advancing urban resilience and promoting sustainable development worldwide.
