News & Blogs
Featuring voices from cities, experts, and partners, these stories of innovation and impact are drawn from across the GPSC’s global network. News and blogs showcase progress, lessons, and thought leadership on sustainable urban development.
From Silos to Systems for Livable Cities: Embracing nature and biodiversity
Today, more than 162 million people in Indonesia live in cities, more than 10 times the number when the country became independent in 1945. Rapid urbanization has put intense pressure on cities across the tropical archipelago, resulting in urban sprawl, unsafe living conditions, and environmental challenges including strains on nature. The decisions made about the future of Indonesian cities, therefore, are as important for people as they are for nature and biodiversity. Jakarta, for example, is home to over 10.5 
The Wetland Advantage: Nature-Based Solutions Power Rwanda’s Urban Future
STORY HIGHLIGHTS Kigali is bringing nearly 500 hectares of urban wetlands back to life—the largest city-wide urban wetland rehabilitation in Africa and one of the largest in the world. This “living infrastructure” has new spaces for tourism, education and recreation, improves water quality and biodiversity, and enhances the usability of adjacent land while bolstering the city’s frontline defense against floods. Through RUDPII, 220,500 people in flood-prone neighborhoods will directly benefit from reduced flooding and a healthier environment. That’s roughly a 
Transforming our cities: a collective path to sustainability
What do sustainable cities mean to you? For many, it is about more than just green spaces and clean air. Sustainable cities are the nexus where innovative solutions converge to create resilient communities, fostering a delicate balance between economic prosperity, ecological integrity, and social equity. With urban sprawl encroaching upon natural habitats and climate change-induced disasters becoming more frequent, which pose threats to ecosystems, biodiversity, human health, and overall well-being, the need for building sustainable cities has never been more 
New US$ 5.2 million initiative to advance sustainability solutions for Nairobi
Nairobi, 13 April 2026 – The Government of Kenya, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat have launched a US$5.2 million project to help transform Nairobi into a model for low-carbon, climate-resilient and nature-positive urban development. Funded by a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant, the initiative is backed by up to US$40 million in future government investment, alongside US$2 million in in-kind support and technical assistance from partners. It aims to demonstrate how rapidly growing cities can reduce emissions, restore 
Inception Workshop Launches Sustainable City Project in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region
The inception workshop for the Sustainable City Project for the Coordinated Development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) Region marked the formal launch of an ambitious initiative under the GEF-8 Sustainable Cities Integrated Program (SCIP) . Jointly organized by UNIDO and the China Society of Automotive Engineers, the event brought together approximately 100 representatives from national ministries, municipal governments, international organizations, and technical institutions to align on a shared vision for low-carbon, resilient urban development. Participants included the Ministry of Finance, serving
