Mayors from around the world join forces in New York to defend local action in the face of global challenges

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day, reviewed by our editorial team. Read the full piece on Le Monde or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: More than 30 mayors and elected officials from major cities gathered in New York on September 19–20 for the Urban 20 summit, sharing local approaches to climate, migration and housing challenges
• The meeting took place alongside the UN General Assembly and brought together leaders including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema and Manchester Mayor Bev Craig

🔭 The context: Urban 20 is designed as a city-level counterpart to the G20, giving mayors a platform to coordinate on challenges that increasingly cross national borders
• The summit highlights the growing role of cities in addressing climate resilience, housing affordability and other pressures affecting urban populations

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Cities are major sources of emissions while also facing increasing exposure to heat, flooding and other climate risks
• Cooperation between mayors can help cities exchange approaches to emissions reduction and climate adaptation

⏭️ What’s next: The discussions are expected to feed into continued cooperation among cities, while the next G20 summit is scheduled for December 14–15 in Miami.

💬 One quote: “Mamdani, oh my God!” — a supporter calling out to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani during the Urban 20 event

📈 One stat: 30+ mayors and elected officials attended the Urban 20 summit in New York

Subscribe to our free newsletters to never miss a beat in sustainability.

The world needs sustainability knowledge. At illuminem, no interest group or shareholder can influence our work. Thank you for supporting our mission to make high-quality and independent sustainability information free for all. Every contribution helps. Thank you for donating today