Local action.
Global momentum.

This event will share international experiences on the just transition from coal, how China's fossil energy transition can accelerate global climate action, and bottom-up, multi-objective driven energy transitions in the U.S., followed by a panel exploring bottom-up action to accelerate fossil fuel transition and drive national climate ambition.

Organizers

Institute of Energy, Climate Change and Energy Transition Program/Center for Global Sustainability/E3G/Powering Past Coal Alliance

Speakers

Nate Hultman (Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland), Tu Jianjun (Institute of Energy, Peking University), Julia Skorupska (Powering Past Coal Alliance), Yang Fuqiang (Institute of Energy, Peking University), Cui Yiyun (Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland), Leo Roberts (E3G), Li Xindi (Institute for Global Decarbonization Progress), Jiehong Lou (Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland), Anika Patel (Carbon Brief)

Countries & territories represented

Not listed in the current programme

Region

Global / Multi-region

Theme

Not listed in the current programme

Featuring outcome sharing, project signing, case showcases and green salon discussions, the event presents Guangdong’s latest green low-carbon transition practices and progress on coordinated climate governance across the Greater Bay Area. It also combines Guangdong’s traditional ecological wisdom with low-carbon ideas and highlights the Xiangyunsha (cloud gauze) dyeing heritage, embodying unique Lingnan charm.

Organizers

Organizer: Guangdong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment Co-organizer: Guangdong Provincial Energy Administration; Guangdong Environmental Technology Center; Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science; Guangdong Cleaner Production Association; Guangzhou Emissions Exchange; Guangdong Low-Carbon Development Promotion Association

Speakers

Not listed in the current programme

Countries & territories represented

China

Region

Asia

Theme

Climate finance; Energy transition & electrification; Local climate policy & planning; Multilevel governance

As climate change intensifies heatwaves, floods, and other extreme weather events, cities and communities are increasingly responsible for protecting people’s health and well-being. Children, young people and other vulnerable groups face disproportionate risks, yet their needs and experiences are not always adequately reflected in adaptation planning, monitoring and reporting. The adoption of the Belém Adaptation Indicators under the GGA marked an important step towards measuring global adaptation progress. As countries begin to put these indicators into practice, attention must now turn to what may still be missing and how the framework can capture socially differentiated vulnerabilities, local realities and tangible outcomes for communities. This session will connect the UNFCCC negotiations with adaptation implementation on the ground. It will examine how the indicators can be strengthened through child-sensitive and socially disaggregated data, as well as respond to the local realities and facilitate access to adaptation finance. Representatives from cities and civil society will share how adaptation planning currently takes place at the local level, particularly in relation to heat resilience, and how cross-border and multilevel cooperation can strengthen local capacities. Drawing on German–Turkish municipal cooperation and experiences from other national and local contexts, the discussion will identify what COP31 should deliver to make the GGA deliver for communities.

Organizers

ICLEI; Save the Children Deutschland; Climate Alliance I Klima-Bündnis

Speakers

Revati Phalkey (Global Director Health and Nutrition); Youssef Nassef (Director of the Adaptation Division)

Countries & territories represented

Germany

Region

Europe

Theme

Youth, education & capacity building; Gender & social inclusion; Urban resilience & adaptation

The organizer has not provided a description in the current programme.

Organizers

Guiding organization: Department of Communications and Education, Ministry of Ecology and Environment; Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Ecology and Environment Organizer: Center for Environmental Education and Communications, Ministry of Ecology and Environment Participating organization: Shanxi Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment; Gansu Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment; Guangdong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment

Speakers

Not listed in the current programme

Countries & territories represented

China

Region

Asia

Theme

Nature-based solutions; Biodiversity & ecosystems; Multilevel governance

As global temperatures rise, extreme heat is becoming more frequent and severe, straining human health, infrastructure, economies, ecosystems, and essential services. Addressing these risks requires coordinated action across governments, cities, communities, and sectors. This session will showcase how the Beat the Heat Implementation Drive, a COP30 Action Agenda Plan to Accelerate Solutions, is converting global commitments into practical local action. The session will explore how Beat the Heat translates the Global Cooling Pledge into subnational action, supporting heat assessments, planning, nature-based cooling, sustainable procurement, and building code adoption in more than 250 cities. The discussion will be anchored in UNEP's Limiting Overshoot Spotlight Report, launched September 2026, which examines the risks of higher warming, pathways to limit and reduce global temperatures, and implications for adaptation and development. Against this backdrop, panellists will discuss how local action can reduce risks from rising temperatures while cutting cooling-related emissions and promoting more sustainable, resilient cooling solutions. By accelerating action now, it can help limit peak warming, supporting the longer-term goal of bringing global temperatures back down towards and below 1.5°C. The session will open with framing remarks from UNEP and the COP30 Presidency, followed by reflections and insights from cities and partners in the room. It will highlight progress, lessons and opportunities to accelerate urban heat action through collaboration.

Organizers

Cool Coalition; United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA); Municipality of Fortaleza

Speakers

Not listed in the current programme

Countries & territories represented

Brazil

Region

Latin America & Caribbean

Theme

Heat & cooling

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is promoting measures such as making renewable energy a core energy source in order to achieve Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Aiming to become a green and resilient global city, this session, co-hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and other related organizations and companies, will disseminate information on initiatives to expand renewable energy that also contribute to energy security, as well as initiatives and related technologies toward the realization of a hydrogen society through public-private partnerships.

Organizers

Organizer: Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Co-organizer: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), and Kanadevia Corporation

Speakers

TBC (Tokyo Metropolitan Government); YAMAMOTO Junichi (Executive Officer, Carbon Neutral Solution Business Headquarters, Kanadevia Corporation); HARA Daishu (Senior Director, Hydrogen and Ammonia Department, NEDO)

Countries & territories represented

Japan

Region

Asia

Theme

Energy transition & electrification; Urban resilience & adaptation

This side event will invite representatives from UN agencies, heads of international organizations, delegates from Chinese and international canal cities, industry experts and business representatives will gather to share insights on practical topics including new energy development along canals, green computing power, coordinated scheduling of computing, power and carbon, and climate action plans for small and medium-sized cities. Multiple cooperation agreements will be signed and an action initiative will be launched on site.

Organizers

World Historic and Cultural Canal Cities Cooperation Organization / Beijing Rongzhi Corporate Social Responsibility Institute / Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI)

Speakers

Representatives from UN agencies, heads of international organizations, delegates from Chinese and international canal cities, industry experts and business representatives

Countries & territories represented

China; multiple European countries

Region

Global / Multi-region

Theme

Energy transition & electrification; Smart cities & digital; Urban resilience & adaptation

Europe is building renewables, grids and new industry at an unprecedented pace. The success of these investments depends not only on technology and finance, but also on how well they are rooted in local communities – whether people feel heard, trust the process and see a fair share of the benefits. This 45-minute session at the Finland Pavilion explores how companies, municipalities and communities can build trust from the early stages and make meaningful engagement a key element of successful green investment. A short keynote sets out why the issue matters now and what is happening at EU level, followed by a conversation with practitioners on what works in practice and what lessons can be shared.

Organizers

Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK)

Speakers

Not listed in the current programme

Countries & territories represented

Finland

Region

Europe

Theme

Community engagement & locally led action; Climate finance

Explore how nature, innovation and integrated planning can shape the cities of tomorrow. Moving beyond conventional smart-city approaches, the discussion will examine how nature-based solutions, biodiversity, low-carbon development, climate adaptation and artificial intelligence can work together to improve urban resilience and quality of life. It will also explore how data-driven decision-making, inclusive technology and innovative financing can help turn sustainable urban ambitions into practical, scalable solutions.

Organizers

Not listed in the current programme

Speakers

Matthew Lo (Youth Representative, University of Bristol/Gamuda Scholar); Dr. Thahirahtul Asma’ binti Zakaria (Deputy Director (Non-Communicable Disease), Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia); Keshav Jha (Senior Manager for Research & Advocacy, ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability South Asia); Moderator: Dr. Haji Mohd Rizal bin Osman (Chief Operating Officer, URBANICE Malaysia)

Countries & territories represented

Malaysia

Region

Asia

Theme

Urban resilience & adaptation; Nature-based solutions; Smart cities & digital

Water ressources, drinking water supply and wastewater management are under severe pressure worldwide as a result of climate change, pollution, ageing infrastructure and the need for expansion. In cities, municipal water suppliers are primarily responsible for this. However, they are usually unable to provide reliable supply for a rapidly growing urban demand. ·This is further aggravated by climate risks affecting the business technically and financially. As a result, there is a massive shortfall in access to services (SDG 6) and in adaption to climate change (SDG 13). The Catalyst Initiative helps to close these gaps. It is a global initiative with initial funding from Germany, the Netherlands and the Stone Family Foundation, that addresses this challenge by mobilising private local capital for critical investments: It supports urban water utilities to make the essential transition to repayable domestic financing, enabling them to become climate-resilient while leaving no one behind. The Catalyst Initiative offers a unique package of technical and financial assistance to reform-minded utilities to support their transformation into well-performing, financially sustainable and climate-resilient service providers. The session will showcase how the Catalyst Initiative integrates climate resilience into utilities’ business models, investment planning and financing strategies and to discuss the opportunities of climate finance to complement public sector funds and commercial finance. The results of the session will be taken to the UN Water Conference in December 2026 and will help to enrich the interactive dialogue F on ‘Investments in Water’.

Organizers

Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Speakers

Lina Liakou (Co-Managing Director, Resilient Cities Network); Mark Peters (CEO, Urban Water Catalyst Initiative); Hemant Mandal (Director of the Department of the Asia and the Pacific Region, Green Climate Fund); Nicolai Tust (Chief Climate Officer); Johann Saathoff (Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany); Moderator: Katie Gallus

Countries & territories represented

Germany

Region

Europe

Theme

Climate finance; Water, coast & flooding; Urban resilience & adaptation

Climate adaptation is a pressing challenge for Brazilian cities, states, communities and businesses. Regions need actionable, cross-sector adaptation intelligence to prioritize investment, build finance-ready projects and mobilize resources. This session will explore how climate disclosure, adaptation intelligence, AI-enabled analysis and peer learning can provide governments, and financial institutions with the insights to accelerate resilient investment. It will showcase how Brazil can connect national ambition with local delivery, highlighting CDP’s collaboration with AdaptaCidades, a national initiative coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, with support from the Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation and the Ministry of Cities.

Organizers

CDP / AdaptaCidades

Speakers

Representative (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil); Dalila Menezes (Director, Research and Planning Institute of Fortaleza (IPPLAN)); Rovena Bortolini (Director, Municipal Secretariat for the Environment, Urbanism, and Sustainability (SMAMUS))

Countries & territories represented

Brazil (Fortaleza; Porto Alegre)

Region

Global / Multi-region

Theme

Multilevel governance; Climate finance; Data, science & assessment

How can the Just Transition Mechanism turn global ambition into fair and inclusive local action? Municipalities and community actors share practical approaches and a communication guide to address inequalities, engage residents and build lasting support for climate action.

Organizers

Climate Alliance (Klima-Bündnis) / Action Solidarité Tiers Monde (ASTM) / Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) / Climate Alliance Italy

Speakers

Andreas Wolter, President of Climate Alliance and Councillor for the City of Cologne, Germany, Represenatives of European Local Authorities Representatives of the project Communication Roadmap for Just Transition in Türkiye (YADA Foundation)

Countries & territories represented

Germany; Italy; Spain; Türkiye

Region

Europe

Theme

Just transition; Community engagement & locally led action