ABOUT THE EVENT

Organised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and UN-Habitat, this networking event will explore how multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) can be effectively operationalised at the local level to advance sustainable housing and resilient communities, in line with SDG 11. Held at a pivotal moment ahead of the convergence of the three Rio Convention COPs, the discussion will focus on the evolving role of local and regional governments (LRGs) as key actors in translating global environmental commitments into tangible urban outcomes.

The event will examine how cities and regions advance the implementation of MEAs through legally binding regulations and integrated urban planning, with a particular focus on housing. It will also identify barriers to meaningful LRG engagement in MEA processes and highlight concrete entry points to strengthen multilevel environmental governance. Building on insights from the UNEP–IHS White Paper, “Global Ambition, Local Action: Facilitating Local and Regional Governments’ Participation for More Effective and Inclusive Multilateral Environmental Agreements”—to be launched during the event—the discussion will present city-level examples of how MEA commitments are translated into local action.

Furthermore, as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 increasingly recognise the role of cities in the context of converging housing and climate crises, UN-Habitat will share insights on the shift toward more action-oriented urban content in these updated commitments.

In line with the event’s networking objectives, part of the session will be dedicated to a structured dialogue between speakers and participants, focusing on how to strengthen the effective engagement of LRGs across MEAs and how to monitor this progress over time. By convening stakeholders across governance levels and institutional roles, the session aims to catalyse partnerships, reinforce inclusive multilevel governance, and advance the localisation of global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda and the New Urban Agenda.

KEY OBJECTIVES

• Launch a new publication: UNEP–IHS White Paper, “Global Ambition, Local Action: Facilitating Local and Regional Governments’ Participation for More Effective and Inclusive Multilateral Environmental Agreements”
• Present indicators for policymakers’ use (UNEP–IHS tracker for LRG engagement in MEAs)
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and share practical experience informing climate and sustainability policies across governance levels
• Catalyse new partnerships and strengthen multilevel governance for sustainable housing and resilient communities

FURTHER INFORMATION

Learn more about WUF13:
https://wuf.unhabitat.org/event/wuf13/global-agreements-local-action-multi-level-governance-sustainable-housing-and-resilient