India's Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, called for coordinated global action to build sustainable cities, framing urban development as central to meeting climate commitments and securing opportunities for future generations. He was speaking at the second edition of the ARISE Cities Forum, held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, which brought together over 200 delegates from more than 50 cities across 18 countries, all representing the Global South.

Minister's Call to Action

Addressing the forum, Sahu outlined a clear operational philosophy for urban climate action. 'From resolve to planning, from planning to implementation, and from implementation to results — that should be our way of working. Our goal is to build cities where development reaches every section of society,' he said. His remarks underscored the Centre's intent to align domestic urban policy with international climate obligations.

Forum's Theme and Agenda

Themed 'From Bharat to Antalya — Commit. Implement. Deliver,' the two-day forum features 3 technical plenaries and 14 technical sessions, focusing on the experiences of local governments across the Global South in advancing urban resilience, low-carbon development, and climate equity. Day 1 featured 2 plenary sessions and 8 technical sessions, covering topics including climate-resilient water management, sustainable energy transition, urban biodiversity, coastal city resilience, and the integration of public health and youth-focused initiatives into urban planning.

Delhi Declaration and COP31 Link

The forum's deliberations are feeding directly into the Delhi Declaration on Local Action for Global Climate Goals 2026, which is scheduled for adoption on Wednesday. The declaration will subsequently be presented at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, positioning Indian urban experiences as a reference point for global climate negotiations. Debolina Kundu, Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs, noted that the theme 'reflects the urgency of moving from climate commitments to action,' adding that city-level solutions must secure a stronger voice in global forums such as the UNFCCC COPs.

Gender-Responsive Urbanism on the Agenda

Shoko Ishikawa, Country Representative of UN Women India, called for gender-responsive and inclusive urban development. She outlined three priorities: integrating gender equality into urban planning, climate policies, and investments; investing in infrastructure that strengthens women's safety, mobility, and economic participation; and institutionalising women's leadership in urban climate action. 'Women and girls help shape the cities of tomorrow,' she said, with UN Women committing to work with the ARISE platform to advance this agenda.

ICLEI's Role and a New MoU

Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI, highlighted the growing influence of urban local governments, stating, 'Cities are developing innovative solutions, building functioning partnerships and demonstrating pathways towards more resilient, inclusive and sustainable futures.' Notably, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN) and ICLEI South Asia on the sidelines, signalling a formal commitment to scaling building-level sustainability interventions across the region.

The forum concludes on Wednesday, with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration expected to set the tone for India's urban climate narrative heading into COP31.