Delhi Declaration paves the way for COP30

The Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals emerged as the key outcome of the first ARISE Cities Forum 2025, held on October 8–9. It set the agenda for the upcoming UNFCCC Climate Conference, COP30.

ARISE — Adaptive, Resilient, Innovative, Sustainable, and Equitable — is the flagship urban resilience forum of local governments led by ICLEI South Asia. The forum was co-hosted by ICLEI South Asia and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA).

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As South Asia’s premier urban resilience platform, the ARISE Cities Forum is poised to catalyse a new wave of inclusive, multilevel, and locally driven climate action, reinforcing the message that sustainable urban development begins in cities.

The Delhi Declaration unites voices from across the Global South in a shared call for stronger multilevel cooperation and accelerated urban climate action. More than 200 delegates from 60 cities and 25 countries representing local, subnational, and national governments, the private sector, and other key stakeholders pledged to amplify urban voices and strengthen collaboration across cities and borders to ensure that priorities of resilience, equity, and sustainability are reflected in global climate outcomes.

Adopted at the close of the two-day Forum, the Delhi Declaration will be 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, according to a Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry statement here on Friday.

The Declaration was handed over by Indore MP and Mentor, Climate Parliament, India, Shankar Lalwani, to Rodrigo De Souza Corradi, Deputy Executive Secretary and Director, ICLEI South America. ICLEI is a global network working with more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development.

The Delhi Declaration represents a landmark affirmation of the role of cities and local governments as indispensable actors in global climate governance. It amplifies the collective voice of the Global South within the UNFCCC process, translating the Local Government and Municipal Administration (LGMA) constituencies’ vision for multilevel collaboration and urbanisation in climate action into a concrete, city-driven commitment.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu delivered the opening address. He said cities are important as they are centres of economic development, but they are under pressure from rising population and water and air pollution. “But where there are challenges, there are also solutions. ARISE is important, as, here, solutions can be sought, despite the challenges. I congratulate ICLEI South Asia for completing 20 years of work in sustainable urban development and for organising the ARISE Cities Forum,” he highlighted.

The Declaration outlines shared commitments to guide local and subnational governments across the Global South: Advance local climate action through enhanced, measurable, and resourced multilevel NDCs; Drive inclusive urban resilience by integrating adaptation, circularity, and nature-based solutions, and promote just and participatory green transitions toward net-zero pathways.

It also sought to empower citizens, women, youth, and communities in climate governance and strengthen multilevel governance and transparent data systems, mobilise climate finance, expand direct access for cities, and champion Global South urban leadership through South–South and triangular cooperation.