Designing resilient and inclusive cities that thrive
This track explores how effective cities can drive sustainable, inclusive and resilient development in line with the SDGs.
Focusing on climate action, smart-city solutions and human-centred approaches, sessions will delve into leveraging data, technology and cross-sector partnerships to tackle urban challenges such as traffic congestion, energy access, extreme weather and social inequality.
Discussion topics
Our speakers are senior decision-makers and experts in sustainable cities and communities around the world, and sessions in this track are hosted by experts in the field.
Delegates will discover innovative strategies for supporting local entrepreneurs, fostering community-centred development and cocreating adaptive policies and infrastructure that can enable cities to become engines of sustainable transformation for people and the planet.
A message from our track hosts and partner
"As co-hosts of the ‘cities and communities’ track, we want to spark real conversations between policymakers, researchers and city practitioners. For the UN Local2030 Coalition, this track is about listening, learning from lived city experiences, and building alliances that turn good ideas into practical action for advancing SDG localisation."
Lucia Graf
Portfolio and Knowledge Management Associate
UN Local2030 Coalition
Marco Zupi
Scientific Director
Centre for Studies in International Politics
"GSDC is a valuable global platform, attracting thousands of participants from around the world to unite around one purpose: sustainability. Its diversity – bringing together NGOs, green investors, environmental ministries and policymakers – makes it truly impactful."
Professor Shirley Chong
Director, Communications and Institutional Research Office
City University of Hong Kong
Copyright
Copyright © 2026 Times Higher Education (THE).
All rights reserved.

.png)

