C40 Cities and UN-Habitat have announced a new partnership aimed at reshaping urban planning to reduce cities’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25% by 2050. At the same time, this initiative promotes the creation of safer, fairer, and more inclusive urban environments. The partnership will launch the Urban Planning Accelerator, an initiative designed to help cities prioritize effective climate solutions, fostering more equitable and resilient communities.
Accelerators provide a framework for cities to collaborate in identifying and rapidly implementing impactful solutions. The rapid expansion of urban areas—growing up to 50% faster than the population, particularly in climate-vulnerable regions—poses a significant threat. Experts warn that without intervention, cities could triple in size by 2050, exacerbating emissions, urban sprawl, and social inequalities.
The Importance of Smart Urban Planning for Climate Leadership
The Urban Planning Accelerator will equip cities with tools, knowledge, and strategies to reshape urban development, emphasizing reduced car dependency and the creation of walkable residential neighborhoods in central areas. It will also encourage stricter building regulations in climate-risk zones and the preservation of natural ecosystems, helping cities withstand extreme weather events.
Speaking at the Green & Resilient UrbanShift Africa Forum in Nairobi, Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, emphasized that “good urban planners are great climate champions.” According to Watts, adopting climate-conscious development standards and designing compact, walkable cities can significantly reduce pollution while creating safer and more livable neighborhoods.
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, reinforced that “sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities are essential to protecting both people and the planet.” In her speech, she highlighted the importance of urban densification and regeneration in addressing the global housing crisis, which affects billions of people living in informal settlements and slums.
The UrbanShift Forum, bringing together stakeholders from across Africa, facilitates knowledge-sharing, partnership-building, and climate ambition advancement. C40 and UN-Habitat will reveal more details about the Urban Planning Accelerator later this year.
What is UN-Habitat?
UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) is the UN agency dedicated to promoting sustainable urban development and human settlements. Established in 1978, UN-Habitat works with governments, municipalities, international organizations, and local communities to tackle challenges such as uncontrolled urban growth, the housing crisis, climate change, and social inequality. Its mission is to ensure that urban development is inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, improving the quality of life for all, especially the most vulnerable populations.
