The Cities Countdown to 2030 was launched by United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and UN-Habitat during the HLPF2025 in New York. This initiative showcases transformative infrastructure projects in cities and regions worldwide. These projects channel millions in public investment to deliver the urgent transitions requested by the 2030 Agenda, transforming and improving the lives of millions of people through local action.
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The Cities Countdown to 2030 highlights how cities and regions are driving food systems and creating employment, linking people through energy and technology, boosting e-commerce, and anchoring all progress in climate and equality goals.
It demonstrates how investments are reaching local levels and shows how this can be further supported by closing policy and regulatory gaps, making financing accessible, mobilizing a mix of domestic, public, and private funds, and strengthening institutions to establish stable foundations.
The Countdown features projects from the cities of Konya, Xianning, Ramallah, Barcelona, Paris, Amman, Bogotá, Brazzaville, Johannesburg, Mexico City, Kisumu, Montevideo, Guangzhou, Guadalajara, and Malmö, based on the following criteria:
- They deliver real infrastructure improvements locally.
- They are backed by strong political leadership.
- They support transitions aligned with the 2030 Agenda.
- They required policy, finance, and partnership support to reach scale.
- These stories are evidence of where public investment is going, of how lives are changing, and of what enabling conditions are still needed.
As the 2030 deadline approaches, this initiative exemplifies how local leadership is essential for turning global ambitions into real change, inviting stakeholders everywhere to join the movement and accelerate sustainable development through local investment.