What is Innovate4Cities?

Innovate4Cities (I4C) is GCoM’s city-focused research and innovation initiative. Built around the needs of cities, I4C connects policy, practice, and science – locally and globally – to unlock climate solutions at speed and scale. Through hosting dedicated spaces for knowledge exchange, global conferences, and pioneering research and innovation outputs, I4C creates and strengthens opportunities for cities to turn ambition into action. By bridging science, policy, and practice, I4C empowers local governments worldwide to deliver the transformative solutions cities demand and the world urgently needs.

The Global Research and Action Agenda on Cities and Climate Change Science

The Global Research and Action Agenda for Cities and Climate Change Science (GRAA) brings together the latest research, practical experiences, and innovative approaches to urban climate action. The GRAA identifies critical knowledge gaps and outlines action priorities that can drive progress, creating a shared roadmap for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers worldwide.

Explore the updated GRAA

Our mission: Strengthening cross-sector partnerships to accelerate the future of inclusive and ambitious urban climate action

Building on the updated Global Research & Action Agenda (GRAA), Innovate4Cities identifies and tackles the data, information, and technology gaps that cities have prioritized and – if addressed – would drive science-based, replicable, and sustainable action at the speed and scale the world needs and cities demand.

Recognizing that no sector or organization alone can realize the actions needed to tackle global warming, Innovate4Cities builds partnerships across national and regional government, academia, business, and civil society to deliver on local needs and accelerate global action.

Innovate4Cities Conferences and Marketplaces

At the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C24) held from 10 to 12 September in Montréal, Canada, more than 2,000 participants from 100+ countries reimagined urban climate solutions. Co-hosted by GCoM and UN-Habitat, I4C24 brought together decision makers, scientists, civil society leaders, and city climate experts. With more than 200 sessions, the event provided an essential convening space for the leading voices of city climate action to synthesize knowledge and scale up urban climate policies and solutions.

Discover what happened at I4C24

The Innovate4Cities Global Marketplace

The I4C Global Marketplace provides a virtual space to identify, explore, and connect the challenges, knowledge, and solutions focused on tackling the climate crisis through action implementation in cities and local governments. The Marketplace catalyzes regionally relevant partnerships that maximize shared priorities and ambitions to implement need-based city climate actions and solutions that deliver a net-zero, climate-resilient and safe future. Moreover, it informs development of the Innovate4Cities Conferences by taking stock of the appetite for cross-sector partnership and implementation that addresses crucial research and innovation priorities. City and climate change science agendas will benefit directly from the knowledge and opportunities shared and developed within and across Marketplaces.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Marketplace sessions!

Winners Announced at the 2025 AI x City Climate Action Hackathon at Climate Week NYC Hosted by the Global Covenant of Mayors and NY Climate Exchange

AI x City Climate Action Hackathon

There is growing momentum at the intersection of climate action and emerging technologies, with artificial intelligence (AI) offering transformative potential for cities to address climate challenges. Yet, ensuring that AI solutions are people-centered, action-oriented, and policy-relevant remains essential – especially for local governments striving to build resilience and reduce emissions.

Recognizing this potential, the CityAI Coalition aims to convene global stakeholders across sectors -municipal governments, city networks, AI experts, technology companies, urban planners, climate scientists, and civil society organizations—to drive innovative solutions for city-level climate challenges.

Check out the 2025 Hackathon

Discover how we concretely support the transition to a net-zero, resilient, and just urban future:

Highlights

The Oceania Pilot of the GCoM Climate Innovation Readiness Navigator

GCoM and University of Melbourne Complete Successful Pilot of Climate Innovation Readiness Navigator in Oceania. Achieving a net-zero, resilient, and just urban future requires rapid and transformative climate action. That action depends on robust evidence that supports the decisions and actions that local practitioners and officials take. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & … read more

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Highlights

Rising temperatures, rising tensions: The urban climate-conflict nexus amid the global housing crisis

Our world faces a convergence of crises: accelerating climate change, escalating conflicts, and rapid urbanization with extensive housing and basic service inadequacy. 2024 was the hottest year on record, conflict events have nearly doubled in five years, and 123 million people were forcibly displaced by the end of 2024. These global shocks and stresses intersect … read more

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Highlights

Winners Announced at the 2025 AI x City Climate Action Hackathon at Climate Week NYC Hosted by the Global Covenant of Mayors and NY Climate Exchange

Two Teams Awarded for Transformative AI-Powered Urban Climate Solutions New York City, New York (September 23, 2025) — The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) has unveiled the winners of the 2025 AI x City Climate Action Forum and Hackathon, held during Climate Week NYC in partnership with the New York Climate … read more

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