NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 22 – The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) will co-host the 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference (I4C26) in Nairobi from June 21 to 24, marking the first time the global climate and urban development forum will be held in Africa.
The high-profile conference is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants from around the world, including leaders from government, academia, business, and civil society, to explore practical solutions for climate change and sustainable urban development.
The selection of Nairobi as the host city underscores Kenya’s growing influence in advancing climate adaptation and urban resilience, particularly for rapidly expanding cities in the Global South.
GCoM Co-Managing Director Andy Deacon said the conference will serve as a key platform for sharing ideas and scaling solutions that can help cities address climate-related challenges.
“We are proud to bring the Innovate4Cities Conference to Nairobi, centering African leadership and innovation from across the continent,” said Andy Deacon. “The conference is anchored on the priorities of the Global Research and Action Agenda for Cities and Climate Change Science (GRAA) and will feature more than 100 sessions focused on bridging the gap between climate research, policy, and practical implementation.”
The conference will focus on five key thematic areas: Multilevel Governance and Partnerships, Housing and Infrastructure, Digitalization and AI, Justice and Equity, and Finance and Implementation.
These themes will examine how cities can accelerate climate action while advancing adequate housing, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable urban development, with a strong emphasis on African, Indigenous, youth, and community-driven perspectives.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach emphasized the importance of investing in housing as African cities continue to grow.
“As Africa’s cities continue to grow, investing in adequate housing will be critical to building more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities,” Rossbach said. “The 2026 Innovate4Cities Conference provides an important platform to connect science, policy, and practice and accelerate solutions for housing, climate action, and sustainable urban development.”
The conference will also highlight how African cities are increasingly emerging as centers of climate innovation rather than being viewed solely through the lens of climate vulnerability.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the conference presents a major opportunity for cities to transform climate science into practical policies that directly benefit communities.
“We are honored to welcome the global community to Nairobi for the first-ever Innovate4Cities Conference in Africa,” Governor Sakaja said. “True climate resilience is built from the ground up, and this convening offers an unprecedented opportunity to turn climate science into tangible urban policy.”
Key highlights of the event will include high-level plenary discussions featuring mayors and urban experts, interactive workshops on climate financing for local governments, and the AI x City Climate Action Hackathon aimed at developing technology-driven urban climate solutions.
I4C26 will also host the largest in-person expert review of the draft Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, bringing together scientists and urban practitioners to strengthen the evidence base that will shape future climate and urban policy decisions.
The conference is expected to strengthen global collaboration and accelerate efforts toward building sustainable and climate-resilient cities worldwide.