Urban transition depends on finance. Yet cities continue to face major structural barriers in accessing finances -particularly for climate-resilient infrastructure. Despite the political momentum from COP28 & 29, the Sevilla Commitment, the MDB reform agenda, the integration of urban priorities in NDCs 3.0, and growing advocacy for urban climate action ahead of COP30 and the forthcoming IPCC SR Cities, these advances are yet to translate into increased financing for cities. Funding remains fragmented and locked at the national level, failing to reach the urban scale where investment is most urgently needed. This networking session will address the question: How can international climate policy and finance reforms enable city-ready financing mechanisms that accelerate climate-resilient urban infrastructure and support a just urban transition?
The session consists of three parts: An opening panel discussion with diverse stakeholders, a fishbowl discussion inviting audience reflection, and an extended networking session across five themed tables. The session concludes with brief concluding remarks and reflections from the table leads.
Intended structure:
– Welcome and session overview
– Setting the scene: Short input on the status of urban climate finance and why we still need to discuss it
– Panel discussion with representatives from finance (EIB), development cooperation (BMZ), climate policy (UN Climate Change), national planning (BAPPENAS, Indonesia), research (UNU, WRI)
– feedback from and discussion with the audience – format: Fishbowl discussion
– Thematic exchanges and networking at 3 (or 6 depending on number of participants) thematic tables, drawing on the participants’ own experiences, facilitated by experts from panel:
1) Finance – guiding question: What would an adequate design of financial architecture for cities have to look like, capitalizing on MDB reform?
2) Climate policy – question: How do we move from talking to ambitious action and finance in support of urban transition, leveraging on COP decisions?
3) National & urban decision-making – question: How can we accelerate turning cities into implementers?
– Wrapping up
The session findings will inform the final position paper on “How COP and MDB Reform Can Finally Unlock Climate-Resilient Infrastructure for Cities”, with participants invited to continue collaboration through sessions at future key events.