Unlocking Climate Action through Urban Law

Many cities have climate commitments and plans in place, but implementation often stalls because the legal and institutional frameworks needed to support them are unclear or fragmented across different levels of government. This session contributes to the Multi-level Governance and Partnerships and Finance and Implementation thematic tracks by exploring how urban legislation can help translate climate goals into concrete action. It draws on the UN-Habitat Urban Law Module of the Law and Climate Change Toolkit, which was piloted in Malawi and Zimbabwe to assess how national climate commitments can be reflected in urban planning laws, governance arrangements, and development controls.

This session will be delivered as an interactive workshop rather than a traditional panel. Following a short introduction to the Urban Law Module and its methodology, representatives from Malawi and Zimbabwe will briefly share their experiences applying the tool and the key challenges encountered. Participants will then engage in a guided group exercise to reflect on legal and governance barriers affecting climate action in their own contexts and discuss potential reform entry points.