On 5 November 2024, ICLEI South Asia, in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), the Urban Development Fund of Egypt (UDF), UN-Habitat Morocco, and GIZ Egypt and Morocco, hosted a session titled “Building Resilient Cities: Bridging the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Gap” at World Urban Forum – 12. The session aimed to showcase cities’ achievements in tackling climate change, emphasizing their crucial role as agents of transformation. Bringing together experts, the event focused on advancing urban climate action by sharing best practices at the local level and exploring ways to align local initiatives with national climate strategies and global agendas.
On 6 November 2024, Mr. Emani Kumar, Deputy Sectary General, ICLEI South Asia participated in a podcast conducted in the Faith Pavilion at the World Urban Forum. During the discussion, he emphasized the critical role of faith actors in climate resilience planning. He highlighted that sustainability extends beyond any one faith or belief system. At ICLEI, efforts are focused on uniting leaders from various faiths and organizations to work alongside city governments to ensure urban sustainability. Mr. Kumar also underscored the invaluable contributions of faith communities as key stakeholders, advocating for their inclusion to drive meaningful change.
On 7 November 2024, ICLEI South Asia conducted a joint session at the India Pavilion under the CDKN and CapaCITIES projects, addressing two critical themes: “Fostering Sustainable Lifestyles through Climate-Smart Development and Urban Partnerships – Lessons from India” and “Accelerating Locally-Led Adaptation for Resilience Building in Cities.” The session highlighted the experiences of Indian cities in climate action planning and implementation, aiming to inspire subnational towns and governments across the Global South. It also underscored the importance of Locally-Led Adaptation measures in enhancing urban resilience.
