24 - 25 June 2025 | Online & In-Person (London)
Bringing cities together to inspire climate action
Where city leaders and innovators meet to accelerate urban climate action
60+ Speakers and 2500+ Delegates
Urban climate action solutions for a sustainable future
We are the flagship event during London Climate Action Week dedicated to discussing how cities around the globe can drive change.
The forthcoming Cities Climate Action Summit, set for 24-25 June 2025, is an essential event tailored for visionary city leaders, creative policymakers, green finance experts, and cutting-edge technology innovators. Aligned with London Climate Action Week, the Summit is designed to foster sub-national efforts to tackle climate issues. It offers prime networking and interaction opportunities, promoting collaboration and innovation for local solutions at global scale.
Organised by SmartCitiesWorld, a global platform addressing urban challenges with over 50,000 members from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, the event partners with organisations like C40 Cities, Resilient Cities Network, Connected Places Catapult, and the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance. These partnerships aim to engage and support cities and their collaborators in transitioning towards smart, sustainable, resilient, equitable, and prosperous futures for all communities.
The Summit is part of SmartCitiesWorld’s larger Cities Climate Action Campaign, which includes research, trend programmes, workshops, and ongoing media outreach designed to convene, educate, and inspire accelerated climate action.
2024 Speakers included:
Lin O'Grady
Theis Hybschmann Petersen
Marc Coudert
Justin Bibb
Patricia Nolan
Jeni Arndt
WHY ATTEND?
- Join the most action-oriented climate event for cities on the planet
- Surround yourself with a global audience of climate, technology, finance, policy, and smart city professionals to hear the latest climate advancements.
- Unlock actionable insights in urban climate resilience.
- Obtain valuable perspectives on developing strategies for building a smart, resilient city.
- Understand real world solutions from city leaders that are transforming cities across the globe.
- Engage in dynamic discussions and learn from other’s experiences.
- Create relationships and partnerships with organisations that are already solving urban climate challenges
Featured Partners included
Our Vision:
At SmartCitiesWorld, we truly believe that the Cities Climate Action Summit is helping to showcase the way cities can act against the realities of climate change and develop sustainable and resilient models across city departments.
Our events are focussed on the outcomes that cities have achieved alongside the challenges and need for collaboration to overcome climate related barriers within our cities.
Our vision is to facilitate positive change. So, although we already have the support of international bodies and partners, we strive to involve every CSO, every CTO and all those involved in the decision-making process within cities to be a part of this journey.
Together we will help create change, department by department, town by town, city by city and country by country.
Just some of the quotes that City Halls gave us:
"Cities shouldn’t wait for a new optimal technology to emerge in the future to get started because there are already so many ways to get started off the shelf."
Björn Hugosson, Chief Climate Officer, City of Stockholm
"The importance is working with other levels of government, communities and the private
sector as we just can’t do it alone."
Lord Mayor Sally Capp, City of Melbourne
Our ground-breaking Report:
Our ground-breaking Cities Climate Action Trend Report lays the foundation for this event - which analyses 200 cities’ targets, actions and priorities in the fight against climate change. We also build on the work achieved through the SmartCitiesWorld COP26 Charter alongside our recent Cities Climate Action Panel Discussion
Our world-class speakers make the case for a new climate imperative. Our audience provides the network to mobilise best practices for cities worldwide.
Just some of the quotes that City Halls gave us:
"Cities shouldn’t wait for a new optimal technology to emerge in the future to get started because there are already so many ways to get started off the shelf."
Björn Hugosson, Chief Climate Officer, City of Stockholm
"The importance is working with other levels of government, communities and the private
sector as we just can’t do it alone."
Lord Mayor Sally Capp, City of Melbourne
What will you take away from the Cities Climate Action Summit?
In this two-day event (one virtual, one in-person), you can be part of the conversation that will drive impactful change. You'll gain insights to develop strategies for building a smart, resilient city that addresses climate change, while considering liveability, equity, and long-term sustainability.
Held during London Climate Action Week, you'll hear from world class, international city leaders and climate experts. You'll be able to engage in dynamic discussions through exclusive roundtables, acquire valuable perspectives from thought-provoking panel debates, and enjoy intimate fireside chats with industry pioneers.
Download the 2024 Agenda 2024 Roundtable Sessions
KEY THEMES
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
We debate the critical role city administrations and local authorities play in driving forward the policy changes to embrace climate action, but also cultivate resilient communities primed for sustainable growth.
CLIMATE FINANCE
We examine the role of climate budgeting in guiding decision-making, resource allocation, and investments for climate-resilient and sustainable development. We discuss how climate budgeting continues to emerge as a method of mobilising financial commitments.
TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT
Any deployment of technology often requires public-private sector partnerships. We’ll highlight real-life, best practice case studies and hear from city experts about the challenges still being faced.
SUB TOPICS
TRANSPORTATION
Cities must prioritize transforming transportation systems, focusing on promoting electric vehicles, enhancing infrastructure and implementing smart traffic management.
We’ll showcase how to unlock commercial opportunities, focus on policies to encourage sustainable transport methods and long-term financing solutions for public transport.
ENERGY & UTILITIES
We’ll delve into energy efficiency and cities' roles in influencing the energy mix, addressing questions of efficiency, conservation, and the transition to clean energy infrastructure, ensuring a just transition for all stakeholders involved.
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Buildings, roads, and pavements, offers opportunities for addressing energy efficiency gaps and urban redevelopment.
We’ll be highlighting data-driven sustainability through technologies like IoT, sensors, AI, and digital twins to inform policy decisions and enhance city agility.
LEADERSHIP
We focus on how cities must set clear goals, accountability frameworks, and flexible strategies.
The aim here is to to engage citizens, benchmark progress, and ensure environmental stewardship amidst addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity.
EQUITY
Equity is a fundamental value in climate action, emphasising fair distribution of benefits and burdens while prioritising access to resources and opportunities for all.
We explore integration and citizen-centric focus to inform equitable city strategies.
COLLABORATION
Our discussions center on fostering public-private partnerships and showcasing successful collaborations.
We also address knowledge sharing, capacity building, sustainable procurement, and advocacy to empower cities with practical strategies for addressing climate challenges and driving sustainable development.
Latest 2024 Speakers
Sophie Hæstorp Andersen
Eleni Myrivili
Anna Lisa Boni
Carlos Evans
Shelby Rust Buso
Ricardo Rio
Oleg Polovynko
Nancy Sutley
Jaromir Beranek
Genesis Gavino
Jennifer Sanders
James Nowlan
Featured Partners for 2024
Some of the Cities who registered in 2024
City Of Copenhagen
City of Philadelphia
City of Melbourne
City of Helsinki
City Of Prague
City Of Toronto
City Of Taipei
City Of Aachen
City of Leuven
City of Tallinn
City of Winnipeg
City of New Orleans
City of Manchester
City of New York
The Hague
Wyndham City Council
Time for Action is Now
"“This event is a powerful testament to the collective determination of cities worldwide to address the urgent challenges of climate change. The summit provided a unique platform for thought leaders, innovators, and policymakers to come together.""
Jaromir Beranek, Chairman of International Relations and EU Funds, City of Prague
"What gives me the most hope is that we underestimate ourselves, we underestimate our collective ingenuity we underestimate our collective will {to solve the climate problem}"
Mayor Francis Suarez, City of Miami, USA
"By creating partnerships, we can deliver against climate action, but importantly they create energy, positive outlooks and a can do society"
Monica Barone, CEO of City of Sydney, Australia
What is unique about the Cities Climate Action Summit?
Different from traditional city events, the Summit seeks to uncover tangible solutions—you will see and hear the latest from leading policymakers, technologists and financiers to learn what is working and what is not working.
The Summit will provide a holistic view of how urban climate action can be achieved at scale.
What is unique about the Cities Climate Action Summit?
Different from traditional city events, the Summit seeks to uncover tangible solutions—you will see and hear the latest from leading policymakers, technologists and financiers to learn what is working and what is not working.
The Summit will provide a holistic view of how urban climate action can be achieved at scale.
Why host the Cities Climate Action Summit?
Experts across the globe from the World Bank to the World Economic Forum estimate investment needed to combat the climate crisis surpasses US$90 trillion by 2030.
And cities are at the crossroad for this investment! The Summit will focus on the policy, the finance and the technology to make these investments wisely—to inform city leaders so they can work to serve and protect their citizens.
Why host the Cities Climate Action Summit?
Experts across the globe from the World Bank to the World Economic Forum estimate investment needed to combat the climate crisis surpasses US$90 trillion by 2030.
And cities are at the crossroad for this investment! The Summit will focus on the policy, the finance and the technology to make these investments wisely—to inform city leaders so they can work to serve and protect their citizens
Contact us
© 2024 SmartCitiesWorld
Smart Cities World Ltd, 27 Clements Lane, London, EC4N 7AE