Briefing of Urban 20 (U20) Summit, 2024

The U20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, co-hosted by Rio and São Paulo, brought together leaders from over 80 cities and 100 delegations from G20 nations to influence the upcoming G20 and advance urban climate action. 

Highlights 

Among the key topics discussed on the U20 agenda, these three should by highlighted

1. Social Inclusion and Equity: Cities urged G20 leaders to address the root causes of inequalities by ensuring universal access to basic services such as housing, healthcare, and education. Key priorities included promoting gender equality and empowering marginalised communities. U20 emphasized the importance of national frameworks supporting local efforts to combat hunger, poverty, and social exclusion. The leaders emphasized equitable development, advocating for 40% of concessional financing to target low-income and vulnerable communities.
2. Accelerating Climate Action: Cities called on G20 governments to align their actions with the Paris Agreement, increase funding for urban climate adaptation and mitigation, and phase out fossil fuels. Specific measures proposed included scaling up renewable energy, fostering sustainable urban planning, and building resilient infrastructure, especially for vulnerable communities. With an especial emphasis on financing, mayors demanded at least $800 million annually until 2030 to fund urban climate initiatives like low-emission transport, clean energy, and resilient infrastructure. This investment could yield significant economic benefits, including a projected $23.9 trillion in returns by 2050.
3. Reforming Global Governance: U20 advocated for the inclusion of cities as critical stakeholders in global decision-making. The demands included democratised governance structures, improved access to international financing, and enhanced representation of urban voices in reforms of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). The summit also showcased examples of city leadership, such as São Paulo's large-scale plant-based meal program and Rio's solar plant on a former landfill, highlighting the role of cities in combining sustainability with community benefits. M

Main outcomes

The U20 Communiqué, a formal statement that called upon the G20 to recognize the unique role of local governments in addressing interconnected challenges such as poverty, sustainable development and climate action. And it stressed the need for empowering cities as active partners, with access to direct funding and decision-making authority, to tackle global issues effectively. It calls for $800 billion annually in urban climate finance by 2030, with 40% for vulnerable communities. Advocates for integrating urban leadership into national climate strategies. Emphasizes equity in the energy transition, focusing on low-income and marginalized groups. And supports global frameworks like CHAMP to strengthen city-government partnerships.

The U20 meeting featured the launch of the Social Pact for the Green, Just, and Resilient Transition, spearheaded by UCLG. This initiative aligns with the EU priorities and underscores the importance of multilevel collaboration in addressing global challenges. The Social Pact is structured around three core pillars: 

1. Green Transition: Advocates for investment in renewable energy, green infrastructure, and climate-resilient urban planning. It calls for international support to scale local climate action in alignment with the Paris Agreement.
2. Just Transition: Focuses on addressing urban inequalities, fostering inclusion, and ensuring access to essential services such as housing, health, and education, particularly for marginalized groups.
3. Resilient Transition: Stresses the importance of building urban resilience by strengthening local capacities to manage risks from economic shocks, natural disasters, and crises.