CityTalk is Your Source for Urban Sustainability Stories
Local actions driving global change
WHAT’S TRENDING
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The just transition is starting locally: Turning fossil fuel phase-out into fair local change
Ahead of the First Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (24–29 April) in Santa Marta, Colombia, local and regional governments are turning this shift into fair, workable change, from energy planning to renewables and workforce reskilling.
Driving global climate and sustainability agendas
Real progress on the global climate emergency depends on coordinated, inclusive, and multilevel action, with cities and regions leading as vital agents of change.
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Eight signs 2026 isn’t business as usual for urban sustainability agendas
For better or worse, the year ahead brings a mix of reforms, political shifts and global milestones that will shape…
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Cities and regions address opportunities and needs on key environmental issues at UN Environment Assembly
As co-focal point of the Local Authorities Major Group, ICLEI ensures cities’ and regions’ voices are represented in the UNEA…
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A new chapter for climate federalism in Brazil: Lessons and legacy from the LGMA National Coordination Group for COP30
Brazil’s pioneering multilevel coordination effort is reshaping multilevel governance and collaboration at home and inspiring global pathways. From the beginning,…
Healthy cities, thriving communities
World Health Day 2026 on 7 April reminds us that the future of health is urban. Extreme heat, air pollution, unsafe water, and climate risks are shaping health worldwide, and demand coordinated action.
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Put mental health at the heart of city decisions: A call to action for World Mental Health Day
On 10 October, World Mental Health Day, is a reminder that urban environments, climate resilience, and social connections profoundly shape…
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Heat is rising. Here’s how cities are rising to respond.
Feeling the heat? So are our cities, and they’re taking action. On Heat Action Day, we spotlight how local and regional…
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Nurturing community and planetary well-being
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of nature in urban environments, providing solace and a sense of well-being during lockdowns.…
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São Paulo’s sustainability vision linking health, resilience and food access
As São Paulo’s thermometers marked record-breaking temperatures last year, the heat wave refused to relent, with March 2024 hitting nearly…
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Climate change is impacting urban health. Here is why and how we should measure it
The 2015-2016 Zika outbreak in South America showed how increasing temperatures and growing populations expose urban areas to considerable health risks….
Unlocking green finance for cities
Cities around the world are setting bold climate targets, yet many still struggle to access the capital needed to deliver them. Stronger governance, clear project pipelines, and institutional capacity are key to turning climate ambition into investable opportunities and unlocking green finance at scale.
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Making your city investable: A practical guide to green finance
Many local governments still struggle to access affordable, long-term capital at scale. Green finance can help – when it is…
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What the Nordic model can teach cities about accessing affordable climate finance
Municipalities pool their borrowing needs, present a combined credit profile to capital markets, issue bonds collectively, and lend the proceeds…
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More than a good idea: The hidden work behind investment-ready projects
Through ICLEI’s Transformative Actions Program, UrbanShift cities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America are strengthening project design, financial planning, and…
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Being investment ready for climate resilience
While climate resilience assessment tools help cities understand their risks, adaptation projects often need a final push to become a…
Driving the transition to zero-waste cities
Cities face growing waste and resource scarcity under linear economic models. Circular development rethinks how resources are used, reused, and shared to create thriving, low-waste communities. To mark International Day of Zero Waste on 30 March, we highlight how cities are already leading this shift.
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Zero food waste: Here’s how four cities are getting there
This year’s Zero Waste Day, our focus is on food – an area where the potential for impact is both…
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African enterprises bet on circularity to reshape food systems
Across Africa, food entrepreneurs across the coffee, fisheries, poultry, and dairy sectors are reshaping how food is produced, packaged, reused,…
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ReUse this: Medellín’s steps to scale returnable packaging
From coffee cups to soda bottles, over 1,000 tonnes of waste are generated every day in Medellín, Colombia. In response,…
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Toward a world free of plastic pollution?
As countries race to finalize a global plastics treaty by the end of 2025, a critical round of negotiations is…