Special Session - Stories from the Climate Frontlines…

How can frontline experiences reshape global climate action for housing and cities?

Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is already reshaping how people live, build, and survive in cities across the world. From rising waters to extreme heat, climate impacts are felt most acutely in homes and neighborhoods, where vulnerability and resilience intersect. This special session explores how cities on the frontlines are responding to these pressures and what their experiences reveal for the future of housing and urban development.

The session will examine how climate finance, policy frameworks, and local action can better align to support resilient housing, secure land, and sustainable urban systems. Particular attention will be given to Amazonian cities, where rapid urbanization meets acute environmental risks, offering powerful lessons for global climate adaptation. Through a dynamic and reflective format, the session will synthesize frontline experiences into an "Urban Climate Action Capsule," capturing insights and commitments that connect global ambition with local realities.

Guiding questions

1. How are frontline cities adapting housing, land, and urban systems to respond to increasing climate risks?
2. What mechanisms can ensure that climate finance effectively reaches cities, communities, and local governments?
3. How can lessons from regions such as the Amazon inform global approaches to climate-resilient urban development?
4. What actions are needed to align global climate commitments with tangible, local impact on housing and livelihoods?

Expected outcomes

The session will strengthen recognition of housing and urban systems as critical entry points for climate action, grounded in lived realities from frontline contexts. It will highlight practical pathways to mobilize climate finance and scale resilient, inclusive housing solutions while fostering stronger collaboration across levels of governance. The session will also generate a synthesis of insights and commitments that connect global climate processes with actionable, people-centered urban responses, contributing to the broader outcomes of WUF13.

1. Elevate the role of cities and housing as central to climate action, linking global frameworks with local realities.
2. Showcase frontline experiences and practical solutions for climate-resilient housing and urban development.
3. Identify pathways to better align climate finance, policy, and implementation to support vulnerable communities.
4. Strengthen collaboration between governments, financial institutions, and local actors to scale people-centered climate action.