On December 2nd 2023, at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, the Urban Nature Program was launched at the event Nurturing Nature: Bringing Nature-Positive Cities to the Forefront of Urban Climate Action.

The Program is co-led by the World Bank through its Global Platform for Sustainable Cities supported by the GEF, the UN Environment Program (UNEP) as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration, and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability in partnership with the World Resources Institute, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), C40 Cities, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), European Commission, AFD and EBRD.

The Urban Nature Program will advance the call to action for Nature Positive Development in cities and regions by supporting Lighthouse Cities to accelerate policy development and investments in nature in urban areas.

1. Upstream Policy Support: coordination and exchange of information of various initiatives, supporting cities for policy engagement, peer-to-peer learning, and engaging global expertise.
2. Midstream Project Preparation Support: targeted and bankable project preparation support by engaging a network of international and domestic financial institutions and private sector investors.
3. Downstream Investment: supporting MDBs and financial institutions to mobilize investment in nature-positive development.

Useful links

GPSC Urban Nature Program

UN Decade on Restoration

ICLEI City Network