In a defining moment for cities across the Global South, the Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals has emerged as a powerful blueprint for Urban Climate Action. Adopted at the first ARISE Cities Forum 2025, held in New Delhi on October 8–9, the declaration calls for stronger cooperation between national and local governments to accelerate sustainable, inclusive, and resilient climate solutions ahead of the UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
The two-day forum—jointly hosted by ICLEI South Asia and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)—brought together over 200 delegates from 60 cities and 25 countries, including representatives of local governments, policymakers, researchers, and private sector leaders. Their shared message was clear: the path to achieving the Paris Agreement goals begins in cities, where climate challenges are most visible and climate innovation is most urgent.
Delhi Declaration Unites Global South for Urban Climate Action
The Delhi Declaration, handed over to the COP30 Presidency in Belém by Shri Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament and Mentor of Climate Parliament India, to Mr. Rodrigo De Souza Corradi, Deputy Executive Secretary and Director, ICLEI South America, marks a critical step in elevating local action to the global stage.
This milestone document reaffirms that cities and local governments are indispensable actors in global climate governance. It reflects the shared ambition of the Global South to shape a future where urban sustainability, equity, and resilience are core to global policy frameworks.
By aligning with COP30’s Action Agenda and the outcomes of the Global Stocktake, the Declaration underscores that urban leadership must be central to achieving climate justice and climate neutrality. It strengthens long-standing advocacy by the Local Government and Municipal Administration (LGMA) constituency for greater recognition of subnational efforts, inclusion of enhanced NDCs 3.0, and equitable access to climate finance.
Urban Climate Action Commitments: The Core of the Declaration
The Delhi Declaration outlines seven core commitments to guide local and subnational governments across the Global South. These commitments encapsulate the next phase of Urban Climate Action:
- Advance local climate action through measurable and well-resourced multilevel Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
- Drive inclusive urban resilience through adaptation, circular economy practices, and nature-based solutions.
- Promote just green transitions towards equitable, net-zero pathways.
- Empower communities—especially women, youth, and vulnerable citizens—in decision-making and governance.
- Strengthen data systems and multilevel governance for transparency and accountability.
- Mobilize climate finance and improve direct access for cities and municipalities.
- Champion Global South leadership through South–South and triangular cooperation, fostering shared innovation and collaboration.
Each of these commitments reflects a shift from policy rhetoric to actionable urban strategies, translating global goals into tangible, city-led outcomes.
Forum Highlights: From Circularity to Climate Resilience
The ARISE Cities Forum 2025 spotlighted critical urban challenges and opportunities that define the sustainability agenda of the coming decade.
Panel discussions and plenaries delved into:
- Bridging the gap between national climate ambitions and local implementation.
- Enhancing waste and water circularity for resource-efficient cities.
- Building sustainable food systems to reduce urban emissions.
- Leveraging nature-based solutions to counter rising urban heat and floods.
- Expanding digital and data-driven tools for energy planning and clean mobility transitions.
These discussions underscored the need for holistic, cross-sectoral approaches—where technology, governance, and citizen participation converge to drive meaningful climate transformation.
Urban Leadership Voices from the Forum
Shri Tokhan Sahu, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, opened the forum with an optimistic note:
“Cities are centres of economic development but are under immense pressure from population growth and pollution. ARISE is crucial as it enables us to seek solutions together. Where there are challenges, there are also opportunities.”
He congratulated ICLEI South Asia for two decades of leadership in sustainable urban development, reaffirming India’s commitment to city-level climate resilience.
Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General, ICLEI and Executive Director, ICLEI South Asia, described the forum as a collective movement:
“ARISE is about ownership of a resilient future. It’s a collective effort to carry Bharat to Belém—ideas to innovation. This is the time to act together, not just for national goals but for locally determined contributions.”
Amit Prothi, Director General, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), emphasized the need for systemic rethinking:
“Urbanisation is occurring at an unprecedented scale. The key question is how we can understand risk better and design infrastructure differently. Agents of change must go beyond government entities.”
Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), summarized the forum’s ethos:
“The Delhi Declaration is a testament that while cities face climate challenges, collaboration leads to transformation. Let’s carry the spirit of ARISE into our cities, ensuring that solutions are practical, adaptive, and inclusive.”
From Dialogue to Delivery: The Road to COP30
The Delhi Declaration is more than a policy statement—it’s a roadmap for collective urban climate action. As it journeys from Delhi to Belém, it represents the unified call of cities to be recognized not merely as implementers but as co-creators of global climate solutions.
By embedding the principles of equity, resilience, and inclusion, it ensures that the voices of the Global South are integral to the global climate dialogue. The emphasis on localising NDCs, improving climate finance flows, and advancing just transitions aligns perfectly with the COP30 agenda of actionable, community-rooted sustainability.
Urban Climate Action: The Future Starts in Cities
The ARISE Cities Forum 2025 has demonstrated that urban areas are not just vulnerable hotspots—they are innovation hubs capable of driving climate-positive change. From waste management to clean mobility, from data governance to community engagement, the forum has shown that solutions already exist; what’s needed now is scale and support.
As COP30 approaches, the momentum from the Delhi Declaration will serve as a catalyst to position cities as key partners in climate policy design and implementation. It’s a timely reminder that the success of global climate goals depends on empowering cities—where people live, work, and build the future.
In essence, urban climate action is not a peripheral movement—it is the heart of global climate resilience. The Delhi Declaration has illuminated a path forward where collaboration, innovation, and inclusion will define how the Global South shapes a sustainable and equitable future for all.
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