The 20th Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements & New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements
Awards Ceremony 2025
Invitation

New York
September 10, 2025

Dear Sir or Madam,

It is our great honor to invite you to participate in the 20th Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements & New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony 2025 (GFHS 2025) which is scheduled to take place at the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 4-5, 2025, with the theme being “Advance Local Innovation and Collaboration for a Resilient and Sustainable Urban Future”.

Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exemption public charity legally chattered in New York State and enjoying the Special Consultative Status with the United Nations. Since 2005, GFHS has been convening its annual forums at the United Nations headquarters and on five continents for 19 consecutive years.

This year’s 20th Annual Sesson of Global Forum on Human Settlements is planned to be co-organized by Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP), in collaboration with other UN agencies and international organizations, including the Federation of Chinese Professional Assoociations in Europe (FCPAE).

GFHS 2025 will include opening ceremony, keynote speech, high-level dialogue, mayors panel, thematic forums, conclusion and recommendation, awards ceremony, closed-door consultation, and networking. GFHS 2025 will bring together 300+ global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and practitioners from 40+ countries for collaborative and productive dialogue and deliberation on pressing issues of urban transformation and development, technology, environment, and financing, notably through the lenses of and needs for innovation and collaboration.

Some of the key topics include enhancing international collaboration at local level for SDGs acceleration; invigorating innovation and leadership towards greener and smarter cities; increasing climate resilience through integrated heat and water resources management; future-proof and net-zero cities and human settlements; urban transformation and competition in AI era; financing for resilient and carbon-neutral cities; nature-based solutions for livability and climate adaptation, Coastal cities as source and solution: shifting the plastics pollution paradigm, among others.

As a global top prize for sustainable urban future, the New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements (New SCAHSA) Awards Ceremony 2025 will be grandly held as a highlight of the Forum to recognize and reward outstanding innovation and local leadership in accelerating sustainable development and climate solutions. The award has been successfully held for 19 years, with awardees coming from different parts of the world. It has become one of the most important sustainable development recognitions in the world, producing a significant demonstration effect.

In view of your significant efforts and progresses in advancing sustainable urban development and contributing to the delivery of the SDGs and climate targets, we are very pleased to invite you and your delegation to attend the forum and the awards ceremony, to share successful experience, foster international collaboration, and attain substantial achievements.

The expenses of participating in this event is at your own. A detailed programme is under preparation and will be made available to confirmed participants in due course. For more information, please feel free to contact the Secretariat of GFHS, by email at haifeng.lyu@igcity.org and christine.he@igcity.org.

Register now：http://gfhsforum.mikecrm.com/LYK3hnO.

We look forward to welcoming you at GFHS 2025.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Lyu Haifeng
Co-Founder & Secretary General Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS)

Draft Schedule

Day 1, November 4, Tuesday

Day 2, November 5, Wednesday

Other Activities (Optional)

The organizing committee recommends registering for the 16th European Forum and the 2nd Sino-European Scientists Forum, to be held in Heidelberg, Germany from October 31 to November 2, 2025. The event aims to foster exchange between municipal governments and scientific talent, and to promote innovation and collaboration.