COP29 Agenda of the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion

9:00 – 9:30 UTC+4

LGMA daily briefing

Presented by LGMA

10:00 – 11:00 UTC+4

Ministerial opening

Presented by Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change and State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SCUPA)

Ministerial opening including cutting of the ribbon.

10:00 – 11:00 UTC+4

LGMA Response to COP29 and World Climate Action Summit (NEW LOCATION: Blue Zone, Area B, Special Event Room: Mugham)

Presented by ICLEI World Secretariat & ICLEI European Secretariat

The session will enable Mayors and other Subnational Leaders of the LGMA Constituency to share their insights on the agenda of the UNFCCC 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) and its World Climate Action Summit to be convened at the Heads of State and Governments level, building upon the LGMA COP29 Joint Position that is endorsed by 70+ local and regional governments and their networks.

This session will be hosted in Special Event Room: Mugham in Area B in the Blue Zone.

11:30 – 12:30 UTC+4

Climate federalism, regional governments and financial entities: A powerful combination

Presented by Brazil Verde Consortium

The session aims to discuss the intersection between climate federalism, regional governments and the role of financial entities in building effective solutions to climate challenges. Starting from an approach focused on cooperation and innovation, we will seek to understand how this combination can boost climate ambition and promote sustainable development. This event has been organized in partnership with ICLEI South America and Suzano.

13:00 – 14:00 UTC+4

Communities first: Lessons learned from Scotland’s approaches to funding loss and damage

Presented by the Government of Scotland

This panel will showcase the learnings from the Scottish Government’s loss and damage programmes, to inform the development on the UNFCCC Loss and Damage Fund. The event will demonstrate our approaches are helping to tackle the injustice at the heart of climate change and highlight the leading role of subnational governments in addressing loss and damage and inspiring others to take action.

14:30 – 15:30 UTC+4

Turkiye zero waste project and applications

Presented by the Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change

Dissemination of the zero waste approach in order to ensure the effective use of natural resources, prevent and reduce waste generation, and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills – The need and importance of the Zero Waste Project in Turkiye and the world- Turkiye Zero Waste Project launched in 2017 –  The importance of the Zero Waste Project within the scope of Sustainable Development Principles –  Zero Waste Regulation published in 2019 – Works carried out by our Ministry within the scope of the Zero Waste Project since 2017 –  Education and Awareness Studies, Information on good practices of zero waste management on a local scale.

16:00 – 17:00 UTC+4

Developing states and regions’ leadership on climate finance

Presented by the Government of Scotland

In partnership with Regions4 and Under2, the Scottish Government is honoured to host this event featuring a discussion spotlighting and calling for greater recognition of states, regions and devolved governments as part of the global climate finance solution. Our panel will highlight specific examples from their regions and identify ways in which these can be expanded, implemented by other governments, and supported by state actors and/or international processes. Moderated by Regions4 Secretary General, Natalia Uribe, the event will feature opening remarks from the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin, and the Climate Group’s Executive Director for Governments and Policy, Champa Patel. This will be followed by a panel discussion, during which each panel member will be asked to speak about the climate finance challenges and solutions they have encountered in their regions.

17:30 – 18:30 UTC+4

Reception by invite only

Presented by the Government of Scotland

9:00 – 9:30 UTC+4

LGMA daily briefing

Presented by LGMA

10:00 – 11:00 UTC+4

How to design and build the cities of the future

Presented by Investissement Québec

11:30 – 12:30 UTC+4

State governments and Brazilian companies in the transition to a zero-carbon economy

Presented by Brazil Verde Consortium

Decarbonization is a global priority in the fight against climate change, but it represents a complex and multifaceted challenge. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires coordinated actions between regional governments and the private sector. This session aims to explore the challenges of decarbonization, highlight the crucial role of both sectors and present initiatives that demonstrate how this collaboration can generate tangible benefits for society and the economy. This event is being organized in partnership with ICLEI SAMS and Suzano.

16:00 – 17:00 UTC+4

Towards climate-neutral, inclusive urban water and sanitation

Presented by UN-Habitat

The water and wastewater sector is significant contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly through emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) during wastewater and sludge treatment. These emissions are often overlooked in national climate strategies, despite their high potential for mitigation and the opportunity they present for aligning urban water infrastructure with global climate goals. Research and project experience (the WaCCliM project (Water and Wastewater Companies for Climate Mitigation) have demonstrated the sector’s capacity to contribute to net zero emissions, particularly in reducing methane emissions and N2O is a key goal of the Global Methane Pledge.

This session will focus on how emissions from the water and wastewater sectors can be included in national GHG inventories, capacity development needs for water and sanitation utilities and how mitigation actions within this sector can be leveraged for utilities to unlock climate financing to improve urban water and sanitation infrastructure and services, and support the achievement of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The session will also demonstrate the role of Sanitation and Water Operators` Partnership (S/WOP) to enhance capacity building for utilities to transition to carbon neutrality. This session is organized with the collaboration of GWOPA, GIZ, and IWA.

14:30 – 15:30 UTC+4

Blowing the winds of sustainability: Wind energy in the race against climate change


Presented by Turkish Wind Energy Association

The panel, Blowing the Winds of Sustainability: Wind Energy in the Race Against Climate Change, focuses on the pivotal role of wind energy in addressing the climate crisis and accelerating the transition to a sustainable, carbon-neutral future. In a world facing urgent environmental challenges, wind energy stands out as a key driver for reducing emissions and fostering energy resilience. Industry leaders, policymakers, and technology experts will explore the essential steps needed to scale wind energy infrastructure and innovation.

Key discussions will cover advancements in wind technology, the policy frameworks necessary to support rapid growth, and the importance of cross-sector collaborations in achieving clean energy targets. By emphasizing both global and regional strategies, this panel aims to provide actionable insights for stakeholders committed to sustainability. Through shared experiences and forward-thinking dialogue, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s potential to lead in the race against climate change.

9:00 – 9:30 UTC+4

LGMA daily briefing

Presented by LGMA

10:00 – 11:00 UTC+4

Sustainable financing to properly operate improved solid waste management systems in Africa

Presented by UN-Habitat

11:30 – 12:30 UTC+4

Investing in our built environment: The role of cities and regions in national climate plans (NDCs)

Presented by UN-Habitat

As National Governments look to shape NDCs next year, this event shows how sub-national action, bolstered by multi-level coordination, can unlock private finance toward a low-carbon and resilient built environment.

12:30 – 14:00 UTC+4

New trends and solutions in deposit management systems

Presented by Türkiye Environment Agency

New Solutions and Application Models

• Digital Deposit Systems (DDS)

Traditional deposit applications are typically managed through the return of physical packaging such as bottles and cans, but digitalization is making this process easier. Digital Deposit Systems (DDS) utilize QR codes or RFID tags to count, track, and manage returned packaging. This enables a faster and more cost-effective recycling process.

• Reverse Vending Machines (RVM)

Reverse vending machines allow users to automatically return deposit-bearing packaging. RVMs provide users with instant cash returns or shopping vouchers for bottles or cans deposited in the machines, making recycling more accessible by being placed in stores and public areas.

• Smart Return Points

Smart return points equipped with technological sensors can automatically detect the weight and type of packaging waste received from users. This system facilitates more efficient sorting of packaging, thereby increasing the recycling rate.

Trends in Deposit Applications

• Circular Economy Approaches

A circular economy approach focused on recycling and reusability is one of the core trends in deposit systems. This system aims to recover packaging not just once but multiple times for reuse. With this approach, both producers and consumers are assigned new responsibilities, promoting environmentally conscious production-consumption cycles.

• Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies

Deposit systems play a crucial role in reducing carbon footprints by increasing recycling rates. New trends promote the use of materials with a lower energy demand in packaging production and with high recyclability rates.

• Incentives to Increase Consumer Participation

Various incentives are offered to encourage consumers to participate more actively in deposit systems. For instance, consumers may receive discounts, coupons, or loyalty points in exchange for recycling. This increases interest and participation in deposit systems.

• Multi-Use Packaging Systems

Single-use packaging is being replaced by multi-use packaging. In this system, packaging is provided to consumers with a deposit and returned to the system after use. This is an effective approach that significantly reduces the amount of packaging waste.

9:00 – 9:30 UTC+4

LGMA daily briefing

Presented by LGMA

10:00 – 12:00 UTC+4

NDC 3.0 Workshop

Presented by UN-Habitat & ICLEI

13:00 – 14:00 UTC+4

The power of green: National gardens as climate change solutions

Presented by the Ministry Of Environment, Urbanisation And Climate Change, General Directorate Of Spatial Planning

Technological-economic developments in recent years and the rapid depletion of resources have led to the deterioration of the natural balance. Urban ecosystems have changed drastically with population growth and dense settlements, especially in large cities. This change has increased sustainability concerns in urban ecosystems and required the introduction of solutions that are in line with nature-based processes. In this context, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change has initiated the “Nation’s Garden” project since 2018, aiming to increase green areas, which have become a decisive tool in the goal of sustainable cities. Within the scope of the “Green City Vision Project”, it was initiated to provide greener living spaces to our cities and contribute to urban ecology, and construction works continue to be carried out throughout the country.

The ‘National Garden’ projects, which are envisaged to contribute to urban ecology in the context of environmental sustainability, are seen as a nature-based solution proposal in the context of combating climate change, which includes sustainable design criteria in today’s contemporary cities and addresses open green space arrangement holistically, as well as structural and vegetative design elements.

In the plant design phase of the nation gardens, it is important that landscape elements are selected from species that require low water and maintenance such as meadows belonging to the natural vegetation of the region, that these species are compatible with the climate of the region and that applications similar to ‘Rain Gardens’ are included. Inventories of the existing ecosystems in the area such as endemicity of plant species, species to be protected, invasive species, etc. should be included, and design should be made in accordance with the interaction of flora and fauna and the microclimatic characteristics of the region.

In the structural design elements phase, natural and permeable materials such as gravel surface coatings, water elements that will contribute to species diversity by taking into account the ecological conditions of the region, recycled materials, using low amounts of energy, flexibility to allow gathering in case of disaster, and a design approach in line with the Zero Waste Policy have been adopted.

Türkiye aims to create urban spaces better equipped to meet future challenges by integrating climate change mitigation into urban planning and development through the nation gardens project.

9:00 – 9:30 UTC+4

LGMA daily briefing: Special briefing on CHAMP

Presented by LGMA

11:30 – 12:30 UTC+4

Resilient design, climate-induced displacement and migration, spatial data and urban planning solutions

Presented by UN-Habitat

Climate change, conflicts, and crises have led to a significant increase in displacement, with many forced into long-lasting exile, often in the world’s poorest and most resource-scarce nations. Humanitarian aid alone is insufficient to meet the long-term needs of displaced populations, necessitating a shift towards strategic urban planning and environmental management that considers the interconnected challenges of forced displacement and climate change.

With its expertise in working with urban experts and promoting local resilience, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) plays a crucial role in facilitating transformative initiatives that respond to local contexts. Through resilience principles and collaboration with various stakeholders, including municipalities and hosting communities, UN-Habitat develops strategies to harness the socio-economic benefits that migrants bring to urban areas. The publication “Designing for Displacement: A Spatial Guide for Planning Along Seasonal Rivers in Drylands”, builds on field experience and research to establish a repository of spatial strategies and socio-economic approaches for humanitarian-development contexts, focusing on settlements along intermittent rivers in East Africa. It aims to provide a resource for practitioners, governments, and stakeholders to expedite planning processes and implement nature-based design solutions that enhance self-reliance and resilience. While the strategies outlined are not prescriptive, they inspire the development of context-specific Nature-based Solutions (NbS) that promote self-reliance and overall resilience.

The guide represents a step towards a collective effort to address the impacts of climate change through innovative planning and design approaches that consider the needs of displaced populations and their host communities. The intention is for the guide to be developed similarly in other regions, and for the topic to be presented from the perspective of partners internationally who will join the discussion at COP29, such as IOM and other partners.

This event is organised in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM).

14:30 – 15:30 UTC+4

A call to action for climate social justice through Loss and Damage

Presented by United Cities and Local Governments

The “Call to Action for Climate Social Justice through Loss and Damage” session at COP29 will spotlight urgent pathways for addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities at the local and regional levels. Hosted at the LGMA Pavilion, this session will convene local and regional politicians, policymakers, and advocates to discuss strategies for fair compensation, resilient recovery, and sustained support. It will emphasize the moral and economic imperative for a climate and social justice approach, urging global stakeholders to prioritize equitable Loss and Damage mechanisms. Participants will explore actionable policies that address climate-induced harms, fostering a just transition that empowers affected communities and ensures resilience. This event is organized in collaboration with the LGMA LD Working Group Partners (ICLEI, C40, Regions4, CoR, and more).

16:00 – 17:00 UTC+4

Perspectives for urban climate action in BRICS and emerging global South

9:00 – 9:30 UTC+4

LGMA daily briefing

Presented by LGMA

10:00 – 11:00 UTC+4

CHAMPioning a new era of climate action: Multilevel partnerships and the way forward

Presented by Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy and C40 Cities

This panel will explore how multilevel partnerships, particularly through the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP), are essential to advancing climate action and achieving net-zero targets. Bringing together key actors from various governance levels—cities, regions, national governments, and international organizations—this event will spotlight successes, challenges, and the pathway forward for scaling coordinated climate action globally.

11:30 – 12:30 UTC+4

RISE UP: Launch of the Urban Vulnerability Atlas

Presented by UN-Habitat

Join us for the grand launch of the Urban Vulnerability Atlas, an innovative web-tool developed under the UN-Habitat RISE UP Flagship Programme. This event marks the culmination of 1.5 years of dedicated work and collaboration with over 100 key partners, showcasing a groundbreaking interactive platform designed to visualize hotspots of urban vulnerabilities and enhance urban resilience planning by integrating climate data, biodiversity metrics, urban growth patterns, and socio-economic variables systemically. This event is organized in collaboration with the Adaptation Fund, AECID, UNOSAT, EBRD, GIZ, and USAID.

13:00 – 14:00 UTC+4

Building back better: Green post-conflict recovery

Presented by the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA)

16:00 – 17:00 UTC+4

Local action, global impact: Advancing multilevel and multi-stakeholder climate solutions on the road to COP30

Presented by UN-Habitat

Co-organized by the Local2030 Coalition, UN-Habitat, and the Ministry of Cities of Brazil, the session aims to bring together representatives from different levels of governance and from different sectors to discuss i) how an effective multilevel and multi-stakeholder roadmap in 2025 can contribute towards a successful COP30; and ii) explore what mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure that strategies for developing, implementing, and following up on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are ambitious, rooted in communities, and guided by SDG Localization. Particular emphasis will be placed on how multilevel and multi-stakeholder cooperation can accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement while achieving the SDGs.

The event will share best practices from a UN-system wide perspective, from national and local government representatives that will offer a strategic opportunity for participants to discuss synergies and scale up efforts from COP29 to COP30 and beyond. The meeting will ensure a link between COP29, COP30 and the High-Impact Initiative on SDG Localization as well as the localization of the 6 SDG transitions.

17:30 – 18:30 UTC+4

Investing millions to save billions: How can strategic investments build urban water resilience?

Presented by UN-Habitat

The world is confronting serious challenges in water management, which are being intensified by the impacts of climate change. Urban areas are particularly at risk, with nearly half a billion people living in coastal regions and many more residing in informal settlements prone to water-related hazards. Floods, droughts, pollution, and other water crises have caused widespread damage, affecting billions globally. To address these challenges, substantial investments are essential to support resilient urban planning and enhance the resilience of urban infrastructure in the face of water-related climate challenges.

This session will explore strategies to increase investments in water-resilient urban development, with a special focus on making strategic, wise investments in project development for water-resilient infrastructure planning and implementation. Currently, there is a significant gap in funding allocated to upstream activities and pre-project preparation phases, despite the availability of substantial adaptation funding for downstream efforts. The session will advocate for the necessity of investing millions upfront for the effective and efficient allocation of billions in implementation in the long term.

Given the urgency of climate change and its effects on urban water resilience, there is a pressing need to move beyond the delivery of isolated projects. The focus must shift towards improving the enabling environment, addressing systematic barriers, and enhancing monitoring and knowledge management. This will ensure that pilot projects contribute effectively to the upscaling of local initiatives and replication in similar contexts. Water resilience initiatives in urban areas require a long-term approach that creates opportunities for leveraging diverse funding sources, including international funding entities, national banks, and blended finance. Furthermore, it is crucial to direct investments toward projects that are inclusive, community-focused, and integrated, ensuring that the funding drives transformative change within cities. This event is organized in collaboration with the Netherlands Enterprise & Development Agency (RVO).

TBC

“Earthquake Resistant Cities” for a sustainable life

Presented by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Turkey

On February 6, 2023, a major earthquake in Kahramanmaras, which has been described as the disaster of the century, caused massive destruction and loss of life in eleven provinces of Turkey. After the August 17, 1999 Marmara earthquake, significant improvements in the building stock helped people get out of the buildings alive despite the damage to many buildings in the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. In this context, technical and legal legislation prepared by our state, especially building inspection, has made cities resilient to natural disasters such as earthquakes, while environmental legislation and practices have ensured a sustainable life cycle in these cities.

It is possible to classify the practices of the Ministry regarding earthquake-resilient cities as pre-earthquake, earthquake period and post-earthquake. When pre-earthquake practices are analyzed under the sub-heading of land planning and building legislation, it can be said that it is aimed to build cities on solid and suitable grounds with advanced engineering practices and supervision. Damage assessment studies are the most important practices carried out during the earthquake period. With a systematic study, damage assessment of hundreds of thousands of houses can be completed in a few weeks.

Post-earthquake, the primary goal of our Ministry has been to ensure that people who have lost their living space can continue their lives in earthquake-resistant and environmentally sensitive cities to be established as soon as possible. Implementations in this context are divided into three categories. Damaged areas in city centers are declared as risky areas or reserve areas and area-based urban transformation practices are carried out. As a second application, satellite cities are established close to the city if sufficient suitable areas cannot be found in city centers. Finally, rural houses are built in damaged rural settlements to ensure the continuation of rural life in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable manner.

14:30 – 15:30 UTC+4

Connecting Climate-Nature-Land from Cali-Baku-Riyadh to Bonn and Belem

Presented by ICLEI

16:00 – 17:00 UTC+4

Town Hall COPs in the new era of Local-Global climate action and advocacy

Presented by ICLEI

17:30 – 18:30 UTC+4

COP29 Urbanization Ministerial Closing and Reception

Presented jointly by ICLEI & UNH

09:00 – 09:30 UTC+4

LGMA daily briefing

Presented by LGMA

10:00 – 11:00 UTC+4

Impact of climate change on land and coastal ecosystems: Mitigation and adaptation

Presented by Mugla Metropolitan Municipality

Mugla is one of the world’s significant tourism centers at Eastern Mediterranean that located in the southwest of Turkey, with a total of 1480 km of coastline. In addition, the sea of Mugla has a very valuable place with its marine ecosystem and biodiversity. Mugla has 5 marine protected area.

The economic structure of Muğla is a dynamic combination of agriculture, tourism, trade, and service sectors. Climate Change is a global problem causing socio-economic, environmental and health related challenges.

For the Mediterranean Basin, climate models consistently project regional warming at rates about 20% above global means and reduced rainfall. The Mediterranean Basin is considered particular in comparison to most other regions due to the high exposure and vulnerability of human societies and ecosystems. Risks associated with projected climate change in the Mediterranean Basin includes heat waves, forest fires, extreme weather events, floods, sea level rising, water shortages, drought, loss of agricultural production and ecosystems. Sea level rise is the origin of multiple risks for low-lying areas in the Mediterranean Basin. Currently, 37% of coastal areas are at moderate to high risk from coastal erosion and flooding.

11:30 – 13:30 UTC+4

NDC 3.0 Workshop (pt.II – 2 hrs)

Presented jointly by ICLEI & UN-Habitat

14:30 – 15:30 UTC+4

World Cities Report 2024: Cities and climate action. Moving from rhetoric to implementable action

Presented by UN-Habitat

16:00 – 17:00 UTC+4

Multi-scale urban adaptation approaches in the Arab region: Solutions for water scarcity within multiple contexts

Presented by UN-Habitat

Climate changes know no bounds and thus addressing its impacts requires thinking at both the regional/ transboundary level as well as the local level, as one city’s climate change experience can differ significantly from another’s close by depending on its unique microclimate, access to resources, governance and built environment. This session will explore multi-scale climate change adaptation solutions for water scarcity and in the Arab region within multiple contexts.

Through this lens, UN-Habitat recognizes the importance of bringing partners together to reflect on the latest work and adaptation techniques being used to withstand climate change impacts. The event will present and discuss national-level adaptation programming by hearing from national representatives who will share their insights and experiences. This discussion will cover the comprehensive NAP processes, highlighting the steps taken to develop and implement effective adaptation strategies. We’ll explore how these plans align with the broader goals set out in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are part of each country’s commitment under the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change impacts and enhance resilience.

Specific interventions will be showcased, demonstrating practical examples of adaptation measures in action. For water scarcity, the event will shed the light on the regional Adaptation Fund project “Resilient Water Solutions against Climate Change in Jordan and Lebanon” highlighting key urban planning efforts and work in Zahle, Irbid, and Mafraq. We’ll also discuss the AECID-funded project on nature-based solutions, featuring a Lebanon adaptation approach with replication potential. An assessment from the “Flash Floods Risk Assessment and Hazard Mapping in Mafraq Wadi” project will identify climate change-related flood risk hotspots in urban areas. This session will also highlight the successes and challenges faced during the implementation of these plans, offering valuable lessons and best practices that can be replicated or adapted in other contexts This event is organized in collaboration with UN-ESCWA and the Ministry of Environment of Jordan.

17:30 – 18:30 UTC+4

Nature at the core: How can urban planning and regeneration become a catalyst in achieving green resilience neighborhoods?

Presented by UN-Habitat

This session will explore the impacts and benefits of urban regeneration in creating resilient and green neighbourhoods and vibrant cities through the integration of Nature-based Solutions. Urban regeneration provides a framework for participatory and integrated city planning and can serve as a catalyst for expanding the network of green and blue spaces and creating public green areas. By restoring and leveraging natural systems such as parks, urban forests and urban agriculture, urban regeneration can enable communities to adapt to climate impacts while enhancing social and spatial inclusion.

Local urban regeneration initiatives are particularly effective in directing investments towards resilient urban development where they are most needed, especially in underserved and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Within many cities, the degree of greening varies across neighbourhoods, with less and lower quality green space typically found in communities of lower socio-economic status. Therefore, urban regeneration, through brownfield regeneration and the transformation of temporary wastelands created by construction and demolitions, can also be an important contributor to a just transition, by enhancing equal access of all residents to quality green spaces. This session, co-organized by Bocconi University and UN-Habitat, builds on a strong existing collaboration in developing methodologies for urban regeneration, implementing local initiatives, and creating an international network of experts and projects. The session will provide a platform for showcasing the potential of urban regeneration for Nature-based Solutions and urban resilience, addressing persisting challenges and innovative solutions. This event is organized in partnership with Bocconi University and IFLA.