The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31)

Associated Event—

The 21st Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements 

& New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements
Awards Ceremony (GFHS 2026)

Resilient Cities, Just Transition: Empowering the Implementation Era of Climate Actions

November 13, 2026

Antalya, Türkiye

CONTEXT

Against the backdrop of an intensifying global climate crisis, profound adjustments in the geopolitical landscape, and the accelerating technological revolution, cities have become the central battleground for implementing global climate actions and advancing sustainable development. Unilateralism, escalating geopolitical conflicts, and shrinking international aid are presenting unprecedented challenges to global sustainable development and climate governance.

Global climate action has entered the "Implementation Era". The 31st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31), to be held in Antalya, Türkiye in November 2026, is an extremely important convention for the entire world. COP31 represents a key juncture for implementing the Paris Agreement following the first Global Stocktake (GST). With "measurable, verifiable, and substantial actions", "just transition for vulnerable groups", and "climate resilience building" as the core agenda, its central mission is to drive the shift of climate action from verbal commitments to global implementation on the ground.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a significant enabler for transformational development, providing technical support for implementing climate action and creating new opportunities for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Examples include: AI technology optimizing climate and environmental risk warnings, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of urban infrastructure, improving resource allocation efficiency, reducing the cost of climate action in developing economies, and safeguarding the development rights and interests of vulnerable groups.

Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity headquartered in New York. It has been holding Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2015 and is an observer organization to the UNFCCC. GFHS is dedicated to providing a high-level platform for global dialogue and cooperation to promote sustainable cities and human settlements for all. With the strong support of UN agencies and global strategic partners, the GFHS Annual Session has been successfully held for 20 consecutive years at UN Headquarters and on five continents, contributing to the advancement of the UN Habitat Agenda, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda.

Centered on "Advancing Local Innovation and Cooperation for a Resilient and Sustainable Urban Future", the 2025 Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements was successfully held in collaboration with key institutions including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which has built consensus on climate goals, strengthened partnerships, and promoted global innovation and cooperation. It also made positive contributions to the outcomes of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).

In this significant context, the 21st Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements and New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony (GFHS 2026), recognized as one of the world's most important conferences dedicated to sustainable cities and human settlements, will take place in Antalya, Türkiye on November 13, 2026, as an associated event of COP31.

Under the theme "Resilient Cities, Just Transition: Empowering the Implementation Era of Climate Actions", GFHS 2026 will bring together over 300 representatives from more than 50 countries. They will engage in in-depth discussions on topics such as AI-empowered resilient cities, inclusive low-carbon transition, energy resilience, nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, the application of ocean-based negative emissions technologies (NETs) in coastal cities, and multi-stakeholder collaborative governance.

As a key international platform on sustainable cities leading up to COP31, GFHS 2026 is designed to consolidate a global urban consensus, share replicable practical solutions, promote deep integration between local actions and global synergy, help narrow the implementation gap in global climate action, and contribute to COP31 with practical wisdom and action recommendations on cities and human settlements, thus supporting cities worldwide in moving towards a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future in the Implementation Era of climate action.

CONTENT

I. Time: November 13, 2026

II. Venue: Antalya, Türkiye

III. Theme: Resilient Cities, Just Transition: Empowering the Implementation Era of Climate Actions

IV. Modality: Opening Ceremony, Keynote Speeches, High-Level Dialogue, Thematic Sessions, Summary and Recommendations, New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony, Closed-door Meetings, etc.

V. Institutional Framework (tbc) 

Co-organizers

Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP)

In Collaboration With

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

European Committee of the Regions (CoR), European Union

Global Human Settlements Foundation (GHSF)

World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)  

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB), Urban Land Institute (ULI) 

International Ocean Institute (IOI), Global Cities Hub (GCH)  

The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), ENERGIES 2050  

World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO)

Sub-Committee on Science and Technology Collaborative Innovation, Science and Technology Committee, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (SCSTCI, STC, MoHURD) 

(Listed in no particular order)

VI. Objectives

1. Provide a valuable, high-level platform for dialogue and cooperation among urban stakeholders, build consensus, enhance synergies, strengthen pragmatic collaboration, and maximize the value of partnerships.

2. Share insightful policy recommendations and solutions to enhance the safety, resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of various urban systems, providing strong support for implementing climate actions.

3. Invigorate local innovation and leadership by recognizing and rewarding outstanding examples, and share successful experiences, promote advanced technologies, and drive breakthrough progress. 

4. Promote climate action investment and financing to empower sustainable development at the local level.

VII. Key topics to be addressed (included but not limited to)

1. Future-proof sustainable cities and human settlements

2. Low-carbon urban development from a just transition perspective

3. AI technology empowering resilient cities

4. Increase climate resilience through integrated urban heat and water resource management

5. Promote distributed renewable energy systems to enhance energy resilience

6. Advance nature-based solutions for livability and climate adaptation 

7. Move towards circular zero-waste cities

8. Cultural heritage conservation and sustainable tourism

9. Apply ocean-based negative emissions technologies (NETs) to leverage coastal cities' climate leadership

VIII. Expected Participants

GFHS 2026 is expected to bring together more than 300 delegates representing 50+ countries, including national government officials, diplomatic envoys, United Nations officers, international organization heads and senior representatives, mayors, business leaders, well-known experts and scholars, practitioners in relevant industries, NGO and youth leaders.

IX. Draft Schedule (tbc)

X. Contact

Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS): https://www.gfhsforum.org/

Email: christine.he@igcity.org, sabrina.he@igcity.org