Cities' Climate Leadership

Over the past decade, Oslo has turned ambitious climate goals into concrete results – from zero-emission construction sites and green transport to climate-smart urban planning. 

As the IPCC leadership and authors gather in Oslo to advance the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, Governing Mayor Eirik Lae Solberg invites key partners from business, academia, government, and international networks to Oslo City Hall. 

Join us at Oslo City Hall on 12 January 2026, for an afternoon filled with inspiring talks, examples of Oslo’s green solutions, and discussions on what’s next: how city-level action connects to national and global climate goals. 

In addition to executives and authors from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we are pleased to welcome international networks such as C40 Cities, Global Covenant of Mayors, World Economic Forum and Viable Cities to this event. The evening concludes with a reception for the IPCC authors and all event participants in the City Hall, co-organized with the Norwegian Environment Agency and the IPCC. 

This event is by invitation only.

Hosted by Vice Mayor for Finance Hallstein Bjercke and Vice Mayor for Environment and Transportation Marit Vea.

The event will begin with sessions in Norwegian. Sessions in English will commence at 15:30.

11.30 –                Dørene åpnes, registrering

12.00-12.45     Festlunsj
Byrådene Hallstein Bjercke og Marit Vea ønsker velkommen til Oslo rådhus og til feiring av klimabudsjettets 10-årsjubileum.

12.45-13.45      Oslo som klimaby: Løsninger som gjør byen bedre
Klimadirektør Heidi Sørensen tar oss med på en reise gjennom de siste ti årene, fra klimabudsjettets spede begynnelse til i dag. Underveis møter vi noen av nøkkelpersonene i arbeidet med klimabudsjettet, vi viser fram konkrete klimatiltak, og vi løfter fram bedriftene og samarbeidet som driver utviklingen framover.

14.00-15.00     Byer leder an: Hva betyr en grønn og klimavennlig hovedstad for Norges klimamål?
I denne sesjonen utforsker vi hvordan lokale tiltak, innovative samarbeid og modige valg i byene bidrar til å løfte Norges samlede klimainnsats. Samtidig er byene avhengige av handlingsrom og nasjonal klimapolitikk for å nå sine klimamål.

In English, suited to an international audience:

15.30-16.30     Local Action, Global Impact
This session highlights the importance of multi-level climate governance and celebrates the innovation and success of city climate budgeting. Cities are not just implementers of polices but key designers of climate solutions. Looking forward, how can the climate governance and budgeting facilitate stronger action in cities and businesses? 

Key notes:

• Climate governance
  Mikkel Schrøder, Head of Climate Budget in C40
• Multi-level governance
  Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy

Panel discussion:  Including cities in global climate governance 

Moderator: Heidi Sørensen, Climate Agency, City of Oslo. 

• Jan Fuglestvedt – Vice-chair IPCC Working Group III  
• Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities
• Marianne Karlsen – Chief Climate Negotiator for Norway, Ministry of Climate and Environment

More participants to be announced

Hosted by Governing Mayor Eirik Lae Solberg

Joint session with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

16.30-17.00     Registration

17.00-18.30     Cities’ Climate Leadership

The IPCC is producing a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities. The IPCC leadership, authors, international partners and event participants join for an evening outreach session exploring the potential of cities in global climate action.

• The potential of Cities in Global Climate Action
  TBA
• Oslo Climate Action
  Eirik Lae Solberg, Governing Mayor, City of Oslo
• Global Cities joining forces to accelerate transition
  Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities
• How the IPCC can inform city led climate action to meet Paris ambitions  
  Jim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC)
• Expert Panel Conversation 

  Cities at the Heart of Climate Solutions: How Urban Innovation Can Drive Global Climate Action 

  Daniel Boero Vargas, World Economic Forum First Movers Coalition (WEF FMC)
  Benjamin Jance, Global Covenant of Mayors
  Olle Dierks, Viable Cities
  Heidi Sørensen, City of Oslo
  TBA, C40 Cities
  Moderated by Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, IPCC

18.30-20.00    Reception with drinks and seasonal tastes