Bringing the local
perspective to the
G20 agenda

By facilitating discussions between countries and cities from the G20, the Urban 20 (U20) establishes a platform for cities to collectively inform G20 negotiations.

An urban world

The world is more urban than ever. Today, more than half of the global population lives in cities, and it is estimated that cities will host two-thirds of all people by 2050. Cities also consume over 75% of the world’s energy, generate 75% of related emissions, and they are experiencing the impacts of climate change first-hand.

URBAN 20 SEEKS TO COLLABORATE AND ENRICH THE AGENDA OF THE G20 WITH AN URBAN PERSPECTIVE, FOR THAT WE WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE BIG CITIES OF THE WORLD

HORACIO RODRIGUEZ LARRETA,
MAYOR OF BUENOS AIRES
MAYORS ARE MAKING PROGRESS ON THE KEY CHALLENGES FACING OUR CITIES. IT IS NECESSARY FOR CITIES’ VOICES TO BE HEARD IN THE G20

ANNE HIDALGO,
MAYOR OF PARIS

IF WE DO NOT IMPLEMENT LOCAL POLICIES, NEITHER THE SDGS NOR THE PARIS AGREEMENT WILL BE REALIZED. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, ONE COULD SAY THAT THE LAUNCH OF THE U20 INITIATIVE, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE CITIES IN THE G20 PROCESS, WAS INEVITABLE.

YURIKO KOIKE,
GOVERNOR OF TOKYO

IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THIS DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE GLOBAL GROUP OF U20 LEADERS THAT THROUGH THE CRISIS WE CAME TOGETHER, THROUGH ADVERSITY WE ROSE TO THE CHALLENGE AND TOGETHER WE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE STATE OF THE WORLD AROUND US, TO CREATE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL OF OUR CITIZENS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL HUMANKIND.

PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION FOR RIYADH CITY

Global processes need to include cities

Effective global action on issues ranging from the climate emergency, addressing inequality and sustainable economic development requires productive dialogue between the national and the local levels of government. The U20 was launched in 2017 under the leadership of Mayor Larreta of Buenos Aires and Mayor Hidalgo of Paris to bring together mayors from major G20 cities to inform the discussions of national leaders at the G20. The U20 in this sense aims at facilitating lasting engagement between the G20 and cities, raise the profile of urban issues in the G20 agenda, and establish a forum for cities to develop a collective message and perspective to inform G20 negotiations. Prior U20 summits include:

2024 – Rio de Janeiro São Paulo

2023 – Ahmedabad

2022 – Jakarta

U20 2021 logo

2021 – Rome-Milan

 2020 – Riyadh

2019 – Tokyo

2018 – Buenos Aires

Cities’ voices
are being
heard

The U20 Communiqué

The main outcome document of the U20 initiative is the U20 communiqué, a written action-oriented document that includes U20 participating cities’ asks and recommendations to national governments handed over to the G20 before the annual G20 Summit.

Please find the main calls from each U20 communiqué within our U20 Editions page.

About the U20
The U20 brings together mayors from major G20 cities to inform the discussions of national leaders at the G20, and establishes a platform for cities to collectively inform G20 negotiations.

U20