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ARISE Cities Forum 2026: Cities' Climate Strategy from the Delhi Declaration to COP31

News context: ARISE Cities Forum 2026 in New Delhi on 27-28 October 2026 and the Delhi Declaration adopted on 28 October. Published: 30 October 2026.
Mains: GS-3 Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Governance.
Prelims: ICLEI, NIUA, LGMA, COP31 and the Rio Conventions.
Symbolic image of an urban skyline and green energy
Original symbolic image: pcsmantra.com

Why in the News

The second edition of the ARISE Cities Forum 2026 was held on 27 and 28 October 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. It was organised by ICLEI South Asia in collaboration with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), with the support of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) release of 29 October, more than 200 delegates from over 50 cities in more than 18 countries took part; three technical plenary sessions and 14 technical sessions were held over the two days.

On 28 October 2026 the forum adopted the "Delhi Declaration: Local Action for Global Climate Goals" and handed it to ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin, so that this shared commitment of cities could be carried to COP31 (Antalya, Turkiye). The theme of the forum was "From Bharat to Antalya - Commit. Implement. Deliver." The Delhi Biodiversity Map, developed by ICLEI South Asia, was also launched at the closing ceremony.

Keep the position clear: the Delhi Declaration is a shared, voluntary commitment-declaration of cities and local bodies. It is neither a binding international treaty nor a notified policy of the Government of India. The numerical targets given in it are the aspirations of the declaration text, not the notified obligations of any country.

What is the ARISE Platform

The ARISE Cities Forum is ICLEI South Asia's urban climate platform, created to connect the voice of Global South cities to international climate negotiations. This second edition of 2026 builds on the first declaration of 2025. The platform aims to promote measurable, locally driven climate action based on cooperation, sustainability, resilience and equity.

The declaration text presents cities as key contributors to international climate negotiations and links up with the demands of the LGMA (Local Governments and Municipal Authorities) constituency, the recognised voice of sub-national governments in the UNFCCC process.

The 10 Commitments of the Delhi Declaration

  • Global agenda from Pre-COP31 to COP31: built on the Taku Pakasoa Declaration adopted on 6 October 2026 - faster emission cuts for the 1.5°C target, a just clean-energy transition, access to climate finance and resilience of vulnerable communities such as SIDS and LDCs.
  • Adaptation and Convention synergy: local implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs); alignment of NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs through coordination among the Rio Conventions (UNFCCC, CBD, UNCCD - including UNCCD COP17 and CBD COP17).
  • Circularity: with zero waste and methane cuts, reducing the growth of waste generation by 50% by 2035; raising the use of circular materials in manufacturing to at least 15% by 2035.
  • Energy transition: sub-national implementation to return to the 1.5°C path; the COP31 presidency's '35 by 2035' global electrification resolve - 35% share of electricity in global final energy consumption by 2035; cutting the energy intensity of the building sector by at least 25% by 2035.
  • Just transition: sub-national representation in platforms such as the Belem-Antalya Mechanism (BAM), so that benefits reach local workers and communities.
  • Multilevel climate finance: predictable and affordable finance for local governments; engagement with processes such as country platforms, public development banks, the Climate Finance Work Programme, the Loss and Damage Fund (FRLD) and the GGA.
  • Independent science and data: use of the IPCC Special Report on Cities (Seventh Assessment Cycle), due in March 2027, as an evidence base; recording local contributions in the second Global Stocktake.
  • Joint platform for multilevel action: an institutional shared space for discussing barriers between Parties and local/sub-national governments.
  • Urban leadership of the Global South: South-South and triangular cooperation; scalable, inclusive urban solutions.
  • Youth and communities: the role of youth, local communities and indigenous knowledge systems in decision-making.

Relevance for India

The forum's holding in New Delhi, MoHUA's support and NIUA's participation place India at the centre of urban climate negotiations. Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi mentioned work with ICLEI South Asia on public transport, electric bus fleets and air-quality pilots at the ceremony. For Indian cities, the declaration means localising their NDCs and drawing up local action plans on issues such as urban heat, water stress, infrastructure and mobility.

Way Forward

The declaration will now move towards COP31 (Antalya). The year 2026 is being seen as a 'triple COP' year for all three agendas - climate, biodiversity and land - and the IPCC Special Report on Cities in March 2027 will give a scientific basis to the coming multilevel discussion. The test of the declaration will be its implementation, access to finance and the real participation of local governments in national processes.

Mains Practice Question

"Achieving global climate goals is not possible without integrating local priorities, resources and implementation capacity." Discuss the opportunities and challenges of multilevel climate governance in the context of the Delhi Declaration 2026.

Answer Outline

Introduction: Briefly state the connection between urbanisation and climate risk, and the role of sub-national governments.

Main Body: Opportunities - local implementation, South-South cooperation, platforms such as the LGMA and the IPCC cities report; challenges - limited access to finance, limits of jurisdiction, data capacity, national-local alignment. Give examples from the Delhi Declaration's commitments (electrification, circularity, climate finance).

Conclusion: Write about the need for institutional finance, capacity-building and localisation of NDCs to turn voluntary declarations into results.

Prelims Practice Questions

Question 1. Consider the following statements with reference to the Delhi Declaration 2026:

1. It was adopted at the ARISE Cities Forum 2026, which was organised by ICLEI South Asia in collaboration with NIUA.
2. It is a binding international treaty under the Paris Agreement.
3. The '35 by 2035' resolve endorsed in it means raising the share of electricity in global final energy consumption to 35% by 2035.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

See Answer and Explanation

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only. Statement 2 is wrong - the Delhi Declaration is a voluntary shared commitment of cities, not a binding treaty. Statements 1 and 3 are verified from the declaration text and the PIB release.

Question 2. To which destination is the ARISE Delhi Declaration 2026 proposed to be carried forward?

(a) COP30, Belem

(b) COP31, Antalya

(c) UNCCD COP17

(d) CBD COP17

See Answer and Explanation

Answer: (b). According to both the declaration text and the PIB release, the declaration will be taken to COP31 (Antalya, Turkiye); the UNCCD/CBD COP17 references are in the context of Convention synergy.

Sources and References

The current-affairs detail is based on the PIB release of 29 October 2026 and the declaration text adopted on 28 October 2026. The Delhi Declaration is a voluntary shared commitment; the targets given in it are not notified policy commitments of the Government of India or any other government.