Thank you, Chair. I am speaking on behalf of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency.
As we look toward the implementation of the Baku to Belém Roadmap, cities have a critical role to play in turning global finance commitments into tangible outcomes on the ground. We welcome mentions and light recognition of cities and subnationals in the IHLEG report and the B2B roadmap but we need to advance much further.
First, cities are where climate investment needs are most immediate and visible. Urban areas face growing demands for resilient infrastructure, affordable housing, sustainable mobility, energy systems, and adaptation measures. Delivering on climate finance goals will ultimately be measured by whether communities experience real improvements in their daily lives.
Second, cities represent a significant pipeline of investable climate projects. By strengthening project preparation, improving planning frameworks, and enhancing financial management capacities, local governments can help convert climate ambition into bankable opportunities that attract both public and private investment.
Third, cities can help improve the effectiveness of climate finance. Local governments are often best placed to identify community needs, integrate mitigation and adaptation objectives, and ensure that investments generate social and economic co-benefits alongside climate outcomes.
Fourth, implementing the Roadmap will require stronger collaboration across levels of government. National climate finance strategies, nationally determined contributions, and development plans can be more effective when they are designed and delivered in partnership with subnational governments.
Finally, scaling climate finance will require mobilising all available sources of capital. Cities can work with public development banks, national governments, philanthropic actors, and private investors to build credible investment pipelines and create the enabling conditions needed to unlock greater flows of finance.
The success of the Baku to Belém Roadmap will depend not only on increasing the volume of finance, but also on ensuring that finance reaches where implementation happens. In that regard, cities are not merely beneficiaries of climate finance, they are essential partners in delivering its impact.
Thank you.
