Local and regional governments around the world recently took part in critical, impactful exchanges at the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, reinforcing their vital role in localising action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Delegates attending the Local and Regional Governments Day, HLPF. Photo credit: © UCLG, 2026 

A key highlight of the forum was the Local and Regional Government Day, which included an official HLPF event: Transformation from the ground up: Acting at local level. Organised by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, the session convened a cross section of local and regional governments, their networks and other stakeholders to highlight how grassroots action drives global progress in realising the SDGs.  

Reflecting on Ten Years of the New Urban Agenda 

2026 marks ten years since the adoption of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) at Habitat III in Quito. Marking this anniversary, a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly took place in New York on 16-17 July 2026 to review NUA progress. Report on NUA progress.pdf. While the review highlighted advances in transport and climate integration, it emphasised ongoing concerns regarding housing affordability and uneven implementation.  

The High-Level Meeting on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, 16-17 July 2026. Photo credit: © UN-Habitat, 2026 

Most importantly, the review underscored a persistent challenge: local governments continue to bear main duties for front-line public services without matching financial power or legal authority. Addressing this imbalance has been a central advocacy message for CLGF and its Global Taskforce partners.  

To improve the urbanisation progress, the NUA review outlined key recommendations, including:  

1. Reinforcing the importance of data and capacity building for urban decision makers;  

2. Accelerating multilevel governance and local climate finance;  

3. Aligning urban strategies with the Paris Agreement and broader development goals.  

These priorities are in line with the Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation and the work that CLGF and its Commonwealth partners are progressing through the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Initiative. 

Call for renewed multilevel governance beyond 2030 

Looking forwards, local and regional governments reaffirmed their commitment to advancing multi-level governance, universal local public services and democratic participation as the foundation of renewed multilateralism. They further reiterated the importance of collective action at all levels, highlighting that the road beyond 2030 starts in cities and territories and that the voices of local and regional governments must remain at the heart of the decisions that will define it.  

• Read the full coverage of the Local and Regional Government Day at HLPF 2026: https://uclg.org/new/at-hlpf-cities-and-territories-raise-their-voice-as-one-and-call-for-renewed-multilevel-governance-beyond-2030/  

• Read the joint statement of the Global Taskforce for Local and Regional Governments at 2026 HLPF here