CityTalk is Your Source for Urban Sustainability Stories
Local actions driving global change
WHAT’S TRENDING
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Five cities rewriting the rules on climate action through plastics circularity
From reducing emissions to boosting climate adaptation, cities around the world are showing how Rethink, Regenerate, Reduce, Reuse and Recover strategies are turning action on plastics into a powerful lever for climate action.
Daring Cities 2026 Bonn Dialogues
Running from 10-12 June alongside the UNFCCC SB64 sessions, the Bonn Dialogues served as a mid-year platform for local and regional leaders, policymakers, scientists, development partners and urban experts to take stock, exchange insights, and strategize on implementations pathways toward and beyond COP31.
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Cities are ready to act. What is needed to meet their transformative ambitions?
The obstacle to urban climate action is rarely ambition. It is building the finance systems and project preparation support that…
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Daring Cities 2026 Bonn Dialogues: What it takes to make the implementation era truly multilevel
Leaders convened on 10 June at the Daring Cities 2026 Bonn Dialogues Opening Plenary to examine the changing landscape of…
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Cities are in the plans. Are they getting the support to deliver them?
COP30 has come and gone. NDCs 3.0 are on the table. The global community has made its commitments. The question…
Building equitable cities
As the World Urban Forum convenes in Baku, Azerbaijan, (17–22 May) under the theme Housing the World, global attention turns to sustainable urbanization. Explore how housing and equity intersect in cities, and how local action is connecting energy access, affordability, and resilience into integrated urban solutions.
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One curriculum transformed Izmir’s climate training, and created an emergency team
In Izmir, four departments stopped working in silos and built one shared curriculum, with results none of them expected.
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What cities need to unlock the net-zero transition: Lessons from the Kaohsiung-ICLEI Community of Practice
Cities consume over 70% of global energy and account for more than 60% of carbon emissions. With accelerating urbanization, cities…
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Beyond shelter: Why housing is Africa’s biggest urban equity challenge
Across Africa, rapid urbanization, affordability gaps, and climate risks are pushing low-income households into informal settlements. Explore how housing inequities…
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From energy shocks to energy resilience: What cities are teaching us about local energy access, security, and poverty
Energy shocks are exposing the limits of fossil fuel systems, but cities are showing the way forward. New research highlights…
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Who gets a say: How cities are engaging those often left out
Participation is critical for urban planning but often uneven. To foster inclusive engagement, cities within the Malmö Commitment are experimenting…
Biodiversity at the heart of resilient cities
Under the theme “Acting locally for global impact,” International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May reminds us that from restoring ecosystems to improving public health, urban biodiversity is fundamental to creating healthier, happier, and more resilient communities.
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Local action to drive sustainable tourism for the communities and nature
How can we ensure tourism not only thrives but also helps protect our planet?
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Urban resilience begins here: How women in Izmir are growing more than food
As Türkiye braces for another summer of heatwaves and unpredictable storms, spaces like the Kadifekale community garden offer a green…
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10 reasons to promote urban biodiversity
Urban growth is shrinking natural habitats, but cities also hold the key to reversing biodiversity loss. As epicenters of change,…
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Measuring urban biodiversity progress and impact: From global frameworks to local tools
With platforms like CitiesWithNature, the Berlin Urban Nature Pact, and metrics like the 3-30-300 rule, local and subnational governments are…
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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Cities are ready to act. What is needed to meet their transformative ambitions?
The obstacle to urban climate action is rarely ambition. It is building the finance systems and project preparation support that…
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Malmö’s blueprint for green finance and what other cities can learn
Malmö competes for capital alongside covered bond issuers, national governments, and corporate. How can a city be so successful?
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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…