Baku, 22 November 2024 — The Slovak Republic has pledged €5 million over five years to support UN-Habitat’s Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) initiative, a global effort to advance urban climate resilience and multilevel governance in alignment with the Paris Agreement. The announcement follows the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Slovak Republic and UN-Habitat during the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo.
The SURGe initiative, developed under the leadership of the COP27 Presidency in collaboration with UN-Habitat and facilitated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, seeks to transform cities to be more healthy, sustainable, inclusive, low-emission, and climate-resilient. Central to its mission is promoting multilevel governance, bridging efforts at the local, national, and global levels to achieve shared climate goals.
The initiative also builds on its institutional role at the UN Climate Change Conferences (COPs), including the organization of Ministerial Meetings on Urbanization and Climate Change. These meetings, bringing together ministers, local leaders, and key stakeholders, aim to strengthen ties across the UN system, anchor outcomes in local implementation, and mobilize resources, particularly for least developed countries (LDCs).
To strengthen global coordination and to provide support to Member States upon their request, UN-Habitat is establishing a dedicated global secretariat in Nairobi. A key focus of this effort is the forthcoming SURGe platform, designed to foster partnerships, share knowledge, and provide tools for localized climate action. Once operational, the platform will offer technical guidance to Member States, supporting the revision of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to better integrate urban priorities. By bridging sectoral approaches and advancing multilevel climate action, it will ensure urban areas – responsible for 70 per cent of global emissions – are effectively embedded in global and national climate strategies.
“By establishing the SURGe Secretariat and supporting pivotal events, including the Ministerial Meetings on Urbanization and Climate Change, we are reinforcing our dedication to effective multilevel climate action and ensuring that our cities are equipped to face the challenges ahead,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN-Habitat.
As part of their commitment to SURGe, the Slovak Republic has proposed establishing a UN-Habitat Regional Centre within its borders. This Centre would serve as a hub for regional coordination, supporting the implementation of the SURGe initiative across Europe and beyond. It would foster partnerships with international organizations, including the European Union, OECD, and the UN Headquarters in Vienna, and host meetings to strengthen collaboration and drive urban climate action.
Speaking at the Press Conference following the Ministerial Meeting(s) on Urbanization and Climate Change at COP29, Tomáš Taraba, Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, said: “The Slovak Republic is proud to commit €5 million within the next five year’s period to the Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) initiative. Following the Ministerial Meeting(s) on Urbanization and Climate Change, which united representatives from over 50 countries, this commitment rearms our belief in the power of partnerships to drive effective climate action. Through SURGe, we aim to strengthen the connections between local, national, and global efforts, empowering communities to create resilient and sustainable urban futures.”
This announcement builds on the May 2024 decision (2024/3) of UN-Habitat’s Executive Board, which provided guidance for operationalizing the SURGe Initiative to accelerate multilevel climate action. It also aligns with Resolution 2/5 of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, reaffirming the urgency of coordinated efforts to tackle climate challenges.