Leading the Way to Sustainable Cities and Communities

Our purpose is given by the United Cities Charter. The Charter represents a long term commitment to developing a set of shared operating principles and support systems that acknowledge and support the role of cities and local communities in human progress and prosperity. 

Accelerating Change with Open Data Platform

United Cities support cities' need for data to manage their smart and sustainable development. This data needs to be available to all, leaving noone behind. In November 2023 we lauch an open data platform. Kristiansund, Norway, is the first city in the world to develop its SDG-Progress Report using the new platform, with many more to come. The Work is done in partnership with the United Cities Internship Program at Campus Kristiansund, and the United Cities Charter Centre in Trondheim.

United Cities Program and Forum

The United Cities Program is United Cities´ main vehicle for implementing the principles and goals of the United Cities Charter.  Cities and Local Communities are welcome to join the United Cities Program. Joining the Program is an easy 3-step process. 

First, you endorse the United Cities Charter. The Charter serves as a shared set of operating principles and ambitions, on which all further interaction is predicated. Secondly, you take part in an independent evaluation of local performance and potential for sustainable development. 

Finally, you know where you stand and are ready to join upcoming networking events, summits and training programs that correspond to your needs and priorities. The objective is to co-create solutions and investable projects that deliver local impact as well as best practices that could be shared with other.

Data

A key component of the United Cities program is access to independent and reliable assessments of cities performance and potential. The data form the backbone not just of any good action plan, but are also crucially important as a shared point of reference for emerging partnerships between cities, the business communities, and investors.

Knowledge

In order to understand and realise local potential for sustainable value creation, the United Cities Program offers training and certification geared towards making cities and local communities better equipped to make informed decision. we connect sustainable development directly to the leadership and governance system in order to optimise resource use and focus attention.

Network

The United Cities program is an important opportunity to meet others, engage in peer to peer learning, promote your knowledge and solutions, and develop future partnerships and projects. Connecting the need of cities to the best available solutions and funding is an increasingly important part of the United Cities Program and Leader Forum

Getting started

Once you join the United Cities Program, you begin by preparing you local team. The United Cities’ “Train the Trainer” approach means we helping you team develop better governance and self reliance. 

Given a clear understanding of the potential and scope of the program, collecting the relevant data on performance and potential means you can face you peers and partners with the metrics needed to focus your shared priorities on high potential opportunities. 

Over a period of 1-3 months, you are set to integrated Sustainable Development Goals into your leadership process and governance systems. And you are ready to engage business communities and investors to implement projects.  Drawing on the data, knowledge and networks developed.

Press Release: JENA MoU

United Cities and the United Cities Sustainability Center Norway has reached a partnership agreement with The Jena Declaration UNESCO Chair on Global Understanding for Sustainability, guided by the principals outlined within the Jena Declaration and the United Cities Charter and Declaration, to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the daily lives of cities and communities. This partnership has three primary objectives:

  1. Improve the quality and importance of urban data in effort to develop evidence-based, workable and legitimate policies and actions to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

  2. Design, implement, assess and disseminate proven models for positively impacting prosperity and planet through social innovation, arts and culture.

  3. Build knowledge and train leadership skills, with a particular emphasis on next generation leaders, that equip leaders to be part of co- designing future communities that embrace culturally and regionally diverse “ways of liv-ing sustainably”.

Press Release 31.08.2023

Press Release: Working with schools to change local communities

In partnership with the Foundation for Global Community Health and Women of Diplomacy, United Cities has begun the development of the GCH United Cities Model School Network (GCHMS) and the MyCity Index platform, an evidence-based platform utilizing student created activity, art, sport skills, and cultural content to include nutritional habits, social and emotional skills, health services, and environmental education. The platform will combine the Centers for Disease Control (CDC’s) School Health Index with United for Smart Sustainable Cities’ SDG Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). By incentivizing and including all community stakeholders on a platform directed by students with local solutions unique to each community; citizens’ self-efficacy, leadership and contributions can be accelerated.

Press Release 31.08.2023

Net Zero Urban Program

United Cities does not fund City infrastructure projects. However, connecting cities and solutions partners to funding opportunities is key to accelerating cities and local communities towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Net Zero Prosperity. We are, therefore, proud to collaborate with global partner KPMG on setting up the Net Zero Urban Program. The aim of the program is to bridge sustainable technological solutions and capital using technology and partnership.

Partnership for Green Industrialisation in Africa

The Just Transition Investor Alliance (JTIA) from South Africa and United Cities, based in Austria, have entered into and signed an agreement to develop Green Industrial Cities in Africa. Selected cities will become lighthouse cities in Africa and for the world through the concept development and implementation of a blueprint for African cities becoming Green Industrial Cities.

Press Release 22.06.2023

Green industrial cities will be the cornerstone to assist Africa leapfrog and increase its share of the $10trn per annum and growing global green industrial economy and accelerate institutional investor-public partnerships at scale, to deliver a risk and climate adjusted Just Energy future for Africa and the world. Partnering with the United Cities – International Centre for Sustainable Cities and Communities (UC), represents a powerful collaboration to crowd-in international strategic partners committed to ensuring Africa’s Green Industrial Cities deliver on their promise
— Dr Hubert Danso, Chairman, The Just Transition Investor Alliance (JTIA) and the African Green Infrastructure Investment Bank (AfGIIB)

Arts, Culture…Sustainability

Sustainable Development is much more than Climate Change. In fact, we are less likely to protect the environment and mitigate emissions without accounting for the long term drivers of social and finical sustainability. Together with our partner, the United Cities Charter Centre in Trondheim, Norway, we are creating a hub that specialises in Social Sustainability, Arts, Culture and Sports.