New Delhi, October 10, 2025: The Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals emerged as the key outcome of the ARISE Cities Forum 2025, held on October 8–9 in New Delhi, setting the stage for COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The declaration unites voices from across the Global South, calling for stronger multilevel cooperation and accelerated urban climate action. The forum was co-hosted by ICLEI South Asia and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

More than 200 delegates from 60 cities across 25 countries—representing local, subnational, and national governments, the private sector, and international organisations—pledged to strengthen collaboration across cities, sectors, and borders. The shared goal: ensuring resilience, equity, and sustainability are central to global climate outcomes.

The Forum featured key speakers including Tokhan Sahu, Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs; Gino van Begin, Secretary General, ICLEI; Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director, NIUA; Norio Saito, Director, Asian Development Bank; Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India; and Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary General, ICLEI South Asia.

Adopted at the close of the two-day forum, the Delhi Declaration will be formally handed over to the COP30 Presidency in Belém as a collective statement of urban ambition—underscoring the leadership of cities in driving resilient, equitable, and sustainable climate action. The Declaration was presented by Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament and Mentor, Climate Parliament India, to Rodrigo De Souza Corradi, Deputy Executive Secretary and Director, ICLEI South America.

The Declaration affirms the indispensable role of cities and local governments in global climate governance, amplifying the collective voice of the Global South within the UNFCCC process. Aligning with the COP30 Action Agenda and the Global Stocktake outcomes, it reinforces that urban leadership is central to achieving the Paris Agreement’s targets. It also strengthens the LGMA’s advocacy for enhanced NDCs 3.0, equitable access to climate finance, and systematic inclusion of local priorities in global policy frameworks.

Key Commitments of the Delhi Declaration:

• Advance local climate action through measurable and resourced multilevel NDCs.

• Drive inclusive urban resilience integrating adaptation, circularity, and nature-based solutions.

• Promote just and participatory green transitions toward net-zero pathways.

• Empower citizens, women, youth, and communities in climate governance.

• Strengthen multilevel governance and transparent data systems.

• Mobilise climate finance and expand direct access for cities.

• Champion Global South urban leadership through South–South and triangular cooperation.

The forum also spotlighted critical themes including urban resilience gaps, waste and water circularity, sustainable food systems, nature-based solutions, urban heat management, disaster resilience, climate finance, and clean mobility transitions.

Speaking at the event, Tokhan Sahu highlighted that while cities face immense challenges such as pollution and rapid urbanisation, they also hold the key to sustainable solutions. Emani Kumar emphasised that ARISE represents collective ownership of a resilient future, stating, “It is about carrying Bharat to Belém—ideas to innovation.” Amit Prothi, Director General, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, underscored the need for reimagining infrastructure amid unprecedented urban growth, while Dr. Debolina Kundu noted that the Declaration demonstrates how collaboration can lead to transformative urban climate action.

As South Asia’s leading platform for urban resilience, the ARISE Cities Forum 2025 has catalysed a powerful movement for inclusive, multilevel, and locally driven climate action, reinforcing that sustainable urban development begins—and succeeds—in cities.

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