The Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals emerged as the key outcome of the inaugural ARISE Cities Forum 2025, marking a significant milestone in strengthening urban leadership in the global climate movement. Adopted in New Delhi, the declaration represents a unified call from cities and local governments across the Global South for enhanced multilevel cooperation and accelerated climate action.
Held in the Indian capital, the ARISE Cities Forum 2025 was co-hosted by ICLEI South Asia and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). The event brought together over 200 delegates from 60 cities and 25 countries, including representatives from local, subnational, and national governments, international organizations, and the private sector. The collective message from the Forum was clear: urban resilience, equity, and sustainability must be central to achieving global climate goals.
As a major step toward strengthening the role of cities in international climate negotiations, the Delhi Declaration will be formally handed over to the COP30 Presidency in Belém, Brazil. The document was symbolically presented by Shankar Lalwani, Member of Parliament and Mentor, Climate Parliament India, to Rodrigo De Souza Corradi, Deputy Executive Secretary and Director of ICLEI South America.
“The Delhi Declaration reflects the determination of cities to not only adapt to climate change but to lead the charge toward more equitable and sustainable futures,” said Corradi during the handover ceremony.
With COP30 fast approaching, the declaration is expected to influence discussions on how urban action can meaningfully contribute to national and global climate targets. It emphasizes the need for inclusive governance, financial empowerment of local governments, and integration of climate resilience into urban planning and infrastructure.
The Delhi Declaration signals a growing consensus: the path to global climate goals must run through cities.
