The successful #CitiesIPCC campaign, carried out by networks of cities and urban actors, resulted in the IPCC's decision to give special focus to cities in its work program towards 2028. Building on the success of COP21, this decision contributes to the engagement of cities in combating climate change and provides new opportunities for collaboration between municipalities, states, and the international scientific community.

The 43rd session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was held this week in Nairobi to decide on the strategy and timetable for the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). The outcome of this session has important implications for future collaborations between cities, states and the IPCC, and for advancing scientific knowledge on climate, policy and leadership at the local, national and global levels.

The IPCC is responding to calls from city networks and urban actors by deciding to give special attention to the impacts of climate change on cities, and their challenges and opportunities for mitigation and adaptation. This focus will be present in all processes of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), including the main assessment report, the summary for policymakers, the report synthesis, and the three AR6 Special Reports. The AR6 processes will also give special attention to the engagement of professionals working in urban areas.

The IPCC also decided that a special report on Cities and Climate Change will be included in the Seventh Assessment Report AR7 (2023-2028) and that it will hold an International Scientific Conference on the topic at the beginning of the AR6 cycle. The Special Report will serve to clarify the potential for governance, policy, and financial instruments to support mitigation and adaptation actions in urban areas, where more than half of the world's population lives and 70% of global energy is generated.

“These results represent a significant achievement for cities, building on the success of the Urban SDG and the COP21 decision. They provide great opportunities for increasing scientific evidence on cities and climate change, in order to enable better climate policymaking at the local level,” commented Debra Roberts, Deputy Director and Head of Resilience for the Municipality of Ethekwini (Durban), South Africa, and Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II.

The #CitiesIPCC campaign was launched by C40, ICLEI, and UCLG in March 2016 and endorsed by more than 25 urban actors worldwide. Many cities approached their national governments directly, encouraging them to vote for a Special Report on Cities and Climate Change, creating strong global support for the recognition of cities by the international scientific community. The response and support of the Government of South Africa, a member of the IPCC states, working groups, and co-chairs, was also undoubtedly essential to this outcome. The three main city networks C40, ICLEI, and UCLG commented very positively on the decision:

“The 43rd Session of the IPCC was an opportunity to build on the momentum created at COP21 and to further recognize the role of cities in combating climate change, and they did not disappoint,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40. “There will be a strong focus on cities in all working panels over the next seven years and the creation of an IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change for the next reporting cycle, which is a great outcome for cities. C40 Cities are eager to work with the scientific community as we develop the evidence base that will support the special report on Cities and Climate Change.”.

Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI, stated: “As cities make progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, it is essential that their work is supported by rigorous scientific analysis. Until now, cities have had to infer the meaning of general scientific findings and apply them at the local level. By addressing the specificities of cities in relation to climate change, the IPCC Special Report will help local and subnational governments develop effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.”.

“UCLG welcomes the IPCC’s decision to produce a report on Cities and Climate Change,” added Josep Roig, UCLG Secretary General. “We are proud of the collaboration between international networks of local governments and their partners, including within the Global Working Group, which led to this important step. The special report will highlight the impact that climate change is already having on cities and help local governments implement the environmental measures of the 2030 Agenda and Habitat III. We hope to maintain this momentum of collaboration in preparation for the Habitat III Conference and the adoption of the New Urban Agenda in Quito in October.‘

The events in Nairobi this week show, once again, that the next seven years will be crucial in the fight against climate change. There is now a unique window of opportunity to launch the scientific research that will comprise the IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change in the Seventh Assessment Report (AR7), and form a solid knowledge base, informing how cities can best adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

For the overall results of IPCC43, please see the IPCC press release. here (English).

Read more about the reports for AR6. here (English).

Read the ICLEI blog on days 1, 2, and 3. here (English).

Read the statement submitted by ICLEI on behalf of the #CitiesIPCC Campaign. here (English).