The C40 Cities and UN-Habitat Urban Planning Accelerator has been unveiled as a key initiative at the World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan. This programme, endorsed by 33 cities worldwide, aims to implement a climate-responsive urban planning model by 2035, addressing climate threats, housing shortages, and inequality.

The Accelerator, presented during the session “Urban Planning is Climate Action: The C40–UN-Habitat Accelerator,” supports cities in moving away from outdated development models. It promotes compact, polycentric, and connected urban development, prioritising people and the planet. The initiative provides technical support, policy guidance, and access to global expertise, enabling cities to integrate climate action into urban planning frameworks.

Cities involved in the initiative, such as Tshwane in South Africa and Fortaleza in Brazil, are already implementing these principles. Tshwane's mayor highlighted efforts to strengthen transit-oriented development and protect environmentally sensitive areas. Fortaleza's mayor noted the expansion of environmental protection areas and cultural heritage zones, marking a significant milestone in the city's 300-year history.

The Accelerator responds to the rapid expansion of urban areas, which could triple by 2050, and the reduction of green spaces. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, cities adopting these planning models could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25% by 2050.

Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, emphasised the importance of urban planning in climate action, stating, “The decisions cities make today about how they grow and develop will shape the resilience, health, and prosperity of urban residents for generations to come.”

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