Delhi Declaration calls on global cities to be heard at COP31 climate talks

City leaders from the Global South have adopted the Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals, which calls for cities to be treated as partners in global climate talks and will now be carried to the COP31 summit in Antalya, Türkiye.

The ARISE Cities Forum 2026 was held on 27–28 October at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. It was organised by ICLEI South Asia with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), supported by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. More than 200 participants from over 50 cities in more than 18 countries attended, with three technical plenaries and 14 technical sessions.

What the declaration says

The declaration builds on the 2025 edition. It positions cities as key contributors to international climate negotiations and calls for stronger collaboration between national and local governments. At the closing ceremony it was formally handed to Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI.

What speakers said

Mikiko Tanaka of UNESCAP said "cities must move to the centre of national climate action" and "climate finance must reach cities, and cities must be ready to use it".

Samed Ağırbaş, COP31 Climate Champion, said: "Local leaders know what their communities need. They must have the finance resources and partnership to act."

Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi spoke of work on public transport, electric buses and air quality, and Dr Debolina Kundu, Director of NIUA, pointed to local action, a just clean energy transition and accessible finance.

The ceremony also launched the Delhi Biodiversity Map, developed by ICLEI South Asia.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (29 OCT 2026 3:14PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: From Bharat to Antalya: Delhi Declaration 2026 Calls for Stronger Multilevel Climate Action Ahead of COP31.