The 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference concludes in Nairobi with renewed commitment to turn urban climate knowledge into action

Nairobi, 25 June 2026 - The 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26) concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, after four days of exchange, collaboration and partnership-building aimed at accelerating climate action in cities.

Marking a historic first as the Conference landed on the African continent, I4C26 brought together city and national government leaders, researchers, practitioners, businesses, civil society, youth and community representatives at UN-Habitat's headquarters from 21 to 24 June.

Co-hosted by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) and UN-Habitat, the Conference served as a collaborative working space at the crossroads of city climate science, policy and practice. Discussions focused on how to close the knowledge, data, finance and implementation gaps that continue to slow urban climate action.

Across the Conference, participants reinforced one central message: cities will determine whether global climate commitments translate into real-world change. As countries move from COP30 decisions toward implementation, and as preparations continue toward COP31, critical choices are being made in cities on housing, infrastructure, finance, resilience, governance, justice and digital innovation.

Anchored in the updated Global Research and Action Agenda for Cities and Climate Change Science , I4C26 focused on five thematic tracks: multi-level governance and partnerships, housing and infrastructure, digitalization and artificial intelligence, justice and equity, and finance and implementation.

The Conference also hosted the largest in-person organized expert review of the Second Order Draft of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. This process created space for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, businesses and civil society to contribute perspectives that can help ensure the report reflects urban realities and supports implementation once published.

A strong focus throughout the Conference was the need to translate evidence into action. Participants emphasized that scientific knowledge must reach the people and institutions responsible for making decisions, shaping policy and delivering climate solutions on the ground.

Housing and infrastructure emerged as central challenges highlighting that adequate, affordable and climate-resilient housing is essential to both mitigation and adaptation, particularly in rapidly urbanizing contexts and informal settlements. Participants stressed that housing, land, infrastructure and basic services must be embedded in climate planning and implementation.

Finance and implementation were also prominent across the Conference Schedule. Participants explored how cities can strengthen institutional capacity, develop investable project pipelines and align finance flows with equitable climate outcomes. The discussions underscored that cities need not only ambition, but the tools, partnerships and resources to deliver practical solutions at scale.

Innovation was also translated into action through the AI x City Climate Action Hackathon , where participants developed practical solutions to urban climate challenges. The winning concept, FloodFact AI, will continue to the Hackathon finale in Cambridge.

The Conference also reinforced the importance of youth leadership, with more than 80 contributing across the programme through technical discussions, innovation activities and cross-sector dialogue. Their participation highlighted the value of engaging the next generation of urban climate leaders in shaping more resilient and equitable cities.

The Conference also elevated African, Indigenous and community-led perspectives, recognizing that urban climate knowledge must reflect the diversity of the cities and communities it is intended to serve. Nairobi provided a powerful setting for these discussions, reflecting the pressures and opportunities facing fast-growing cities across the world.

Beyond the Conference venue, participants visited Korogocho informal settlement, where youth delegates worked alongside a local community centre to implement a road safety project, demonstrating how collaboration can translate dialogue into tangible action.

As I4C26 concluded, participants looked ahead to concrete outputs, including continued support to the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities and the development of shared knowledge resources to connect local practice with global climate processes.

I4C26 demonstrated that when science, policy, finance, business and communities work with cities, climate knowledge can move faster into the decisions, investments and partnerships needed to deliver real change. Accelerating urban climate action will require stronger multi-level partnerships, better use of evidence, greater access to finance and sustained collaboration between those who generate knowledge and those responsible for acting on it.

I4C26 closed with a clear message from Nairobi: the evidence exists, the urgency is clear and the next phase of climate action must be delivered with and in cities.