Seizing the Urban Opportunity
A 3-step guide for strengthening Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0
This practical guide, developed by UN-Habitat, SDU, and UNESCO, empowers national and local governments to unlock urban climate action as part of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The report outlines a clear three-step process for integrating urban priorities into NDCs, maximising policy impact and fostering inclusive, resilient cities that contribute to global climate goals.
“Urban areas are where many of today’s challenges converge, from inadequate housing and basic services to growing exposure to floods, heat, and sea level rise. But they are also where solutions are abundant. Cities are spaces of innovation and leadership, where governments, communities, and practitioners are implementing solutions and responses that connect climate action with daily realities. This potential remains underrepresented in many national climate plans, but countries have a clear chance to close that gap.”
Anacláudia Rossbach Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat
The Three Steps:
- Understand your NDC and the wider policy and development context
Analyse your country’s NDC and how it connects with national and local policies, development plans, and urban priorities. - Identify key relationships and actors for implementation
Map out the institutions, stakeholders, and partnerships essential for effective urban climate action and NDC delivery. - Co-develop a robust urban climate action pathway
Collaborate across government levels and with stakeholders to create actionable, context-specific urban climate strategies that strengthen your NDC.
Snapshot: A 3-step guide for strengthening urban content in NDCs 3.0
About UN-Habitat
UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. The third domain of change of UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan is “Strengthened Climate Action and Improved Urban Environment” under which the programme helps stakeholders develop and implement policies, norms, guidelines, standards, regulatory frameworks and operating procedures for strengthened climate change mitigation and enhanced air quality, sustainable production and consumption and circularity, urban nature-based solutions and improved urban and community-level climate change adaptation and resilience.
About UNESCO Chair on Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU.Resilience)
SDU.Resilience is a research group involved in transdisciplinary research, education and knowledge transfer on urban resilience in Denmark and internationally. The activities of SDU. Resilience focus on resilient transitions, systemically integrating disaster risk reduction, development and climate change in urban areas. SDU.Resilience research informs policymaking at national and international levels and supports science-based urban planning and design for local action in both the global North and global South.
