ISOCARP Pulse: 2025 #4 November

ISOCARP PULSE 2025  November Mobilising Momentum: Building Towards Riyadh and Beyond  ISOCARP reached its 60th anniversary milestone this year and as gathers momentum toward the upcoming World Planning Congress in Riyadh, this edition of PULSE celebrates the collective energy, ideas and actions driving our global planning community. From shared advocacy during Urban October to representation at major international platforms in recent weeks, this issue highlights how members, partners and networks are shaping the discourse on sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban futures. It is also a moment for reflection as we honour the contributions that have shaped ISOCARP since 1965 and look ahead to the next decade of transformation. Through these stories and updates, we invite members to stay engaged, share their perspectives and take part in the continuing evolution of our association, one that remains proudly member-led, collaborative and globally connected.   Towards the Riyadh World Planning Congress With only days to go, preparations for the Riyadh World Planning Congress are well under way. The Congress will bring together planners, policymakers, scholars and partners from around the world to engage in dialogue, exchange knowledge and build shared pathways towards more sustainable and resilient urban futures. Key programme elements include Opening and Closing Plenaries, thematic track sessions, special sessions, partner-led and ISOCARP-led contributions, as well as locally hosted programmes and side events. The Congress will also feature the Young Planning Professionals Workshop from 24–28 November, the first Masterclass on AI in Urban Planning from 29–30 November, the Do-Track from 1–3 December, the Student Twinning Programme, and a series of technical tours, cultural activities and networking events. The Special General Meeting, held on 18 November, and the Annual General Meeting during the Congress will provide important governance moments, including the launch of the voting platform for new Board and Scientific Committee members. This reinforces our commitment to a member-led association. If you have not yet registered, we encourage you to do so at: Link We look forward to welcoming you in Riyadh as we shape the future of planning together. Urban October Highlights Urban October once again provided ISOCARP with a platform to contribute to global advocacy on sustainable cities, beginning with World Habitat Day in Nairobi on 6 October and extending well beyond World Cities Day on 31 October as a launchpad towards our own World Planning Congress in Riyadh. Voices for Urban Futures Throughout the month, engagements across the network highlighted the strength of our community in shaping equitable and resilient urban futures. ISOCARP supported World Cities Day and World Town Planning Day activities, contributed to the Global Planners Network campaign, amplified member-led initiatives including celebrations in Iran, and issued a special Congress newsletter on 17 November. Coordinated social media efforts further amplified planning voices and drew attention to the transformative role of planning in addressing climate, social and spatial challenges.   World Habitat Day in Nairobi focused on crisis response in urban areas and the tools available to address inequalities driven by climate impacts and conflict, setting the tone for a month of collaborative action. On 7 October, World Metropolitan Day underscored the need for cooperation beyond administrative boundaries for more effective metropolitan governance. This call was echoed during the Metropolis 40th Anniversary Congress and Smart Life World Expo in Seoul from September 29 to October 2, where ISOCARP engaged metropolitan leaders, several of whom expressed interest in hosting future World Planning Congresses.     From 9 to 11 October, ISOCARP's Board Members Wafa-al-Daily and Mahak Agrawal contributed to the Oman Circular Cities Conference in Muscat, sharing insights on participatory and regenerative frameworks for circular urban transitions. The organisation's ongoing capacity-building work was recognised at the Habitat Professionals Forum, where ISOCARP's report was formally endorsed. Professional platforms and international recognition   On 15 October, ISOCARP actively engaged in a virtual gathering of the Habitat Professionals Forum, chaired by our member Eleanor Mohammed. ISOCARP presented its report on addressing the widening capacity deficit for sustainable planning and placemaking, which was welcomed and endorsed by the plenary meeting. The report includes action proposals for the 13th World Urban Forum in Baku next year.   On 31 October, the Global Observance of World Cities Day in Bogotá, Colombia was linked to people-centred smart cities, showcasing how data-driven decision making, technology and AI can be used to improve urban life and recover from current shocks and crises. The event also highlighted smart city initiatives centred on people.  COP30 and Climate leadership Recent weeks have seen strong representation in high-level international forums.   President Elisabeth Belpaire was invited to the COP30 Local Leaders Forum and the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Alongside global city leaders, she contributed to discussions on urban climate leadership and sustainable transformation, thereby also lifting ISOCARP's global profile and the importance of strategic spatial planning for climate action.  She also participated in the symbolic Swimmable Cities event at Copacabana Beach, highlighting commitments to clean, healthy and accessible urban waters as part of broader urban regeneration and climate resilience efforts.  The Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA), of which ISOCARP is a member, believes that success at COP30 means putting local and other subnational governments at the heart of global implementation efforts, by formally recognizing and harnessing the vital role they play in driving more ambitious and inclusive climate action and to move from negotiations to implementation.  Read the LGMA COP30 Joint Position here, and the media press release here, supporting multilevel climate action.  Upon the conclusion of COP30, the LGMA Constituency commended the Parties and COP30 Presidency on finding consensus after difficult and prolonged negotiations. Reflecting on the statement, our President added, 'From Rio to Belém, local leaders reinforced unequivocally what the Paris Agreement recognises: implementation lives in territories - yet the outcome of COP30 does not match the commitments needed. Urban and territorial planning connects global and national goals with regional systems and local realities, and helps scale local action toward climate ambition.' Read more: Link  Now that COP30 has concluded after two weeks of negotiations, ministerial dialogues, and technical sessions in Belém, it is clear that urban and regional dimensions of climate action received greater attention than ever before.  As part of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency, ISOCARP contributed to discussions connecting spatial planning with multilevel governance, adaptation, resilience, and climate finance. LGMA's Joint Position for COP30 called for a formal UNFCCC work programme on multilevel climate action, and for stronger integration of local and regional perspectives into the next cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These messages appeared consistently across the Urbanization and Climate Ministerial, the Cities & Regions Hub, and several Presidency-level dialogues.                 🤝 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 Brazil and Germany were announced as co-chairs of CHAMP, with objectives to integrate local action into 100 NDCs by 2028 and train 6,000 local officials in climate planning capacities. 📈 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗗𝗖𝘀 UN-Habitat's "Urban Content in NDC 3.0" snapshot shows that strong references to urban systems — including planning, housing, land use and local resilience — have doubled in the latest round of NDCs. 🌡️ 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 Negotiators worked from a list of around 100 proposed adaptation indicators, with 59 indicators included in the final COP30 decision annex and a two-year work programme established to refine and operationalise them, including improving their relevance for local realities such as housing, services, cooling, and spatial disparities. 🏗️ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁-𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 Across COP30, architects, planners, engineers, and landscape architects advanced shared messages on regenerative design, resilient codes, circularity, and nature-positive urbanism. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗣 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝟯𝟬 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 A dedicated ISOCARP Newsletter Special Issue will be released soon, featuring a deeper overview of COP30 outcomes, full delegation reflections, insights, and highlights from our engagements across the COP. The Society was represented in Belém by Lamis Elkhatieb, Pia Carrasco, Dr. Nadine Bitar Chahine, Catarina Camarinhas and Tijana Tufek Memišević, PhD, as head of delegation. The team was supported with virtual attendance by Martina Juvara, Tjark Gall, Béatrice Crabb and Lisa Nyamadzawo.   On 2 to 3 November, ISOCARP engaged in the 20th Annual Session of the Global Forum on Human Settlements and the New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony in Geneva. Held at the headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization, the conference focused on advancing local innovation and collaboration for resilient and sustainable urban futures. ISOCARP contributed to and presented the planning section of the GFHS Geneva Declaration. Read the Declaration here: Link During the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona from 7 to 9 November, ISOCARP organised a side event on why planning matters, convening an expert panel and delivering a compact manifesto within a gathering of more than 25,000 participants. On 6 to 7 November, ISOCARP was represented at the 40th anniversary conference of the European Council of Spatial Planners in Brussels. ISOCARP hailed the Charter of European Planning as a source of inspiration for a future ISOCARP Charter of City and Regional Planning worldwide. The conference concluded with the presentation of the 2025 European Planning Awards. Knowledge and Practice The fifteenth session of the Cyber Agora series focused on Marine Spatial Planning and its role in supporting climate action.Moderator Brian Shipman convened Emiliano Ramieri and Vera Noon to explore European, Mediterranean and Global South perspectives on resilient ocean governance. Recording available here: Link ISOCARP's Community of Practice in Urban Health continues its collaboration with Cities & Health, contributing to special issues and knowledge translation through the City Know-how platform. This curated repository provides one-page peer-reviewed summaries for urban decision-makers, bridging research and practice.  Link  ISOCARP60 – Celebrating Six Decades of Global Impact We launched the Diamond Jubilee year 2025 on 23 January with a special virtual reception, held at two different times to reach all members and friends of ISOCARP worldwide. The founding protocol, shown below, is written in Dutch and states that the signatory founding members gathered in Amsterdam to establish the International Society of City and Regional Planners – Association Internationale des Urbanistes (AIU) – now known as ISOCARP – as the Standing Committee of Professional Planners within the International Federation for Housing and Planning (which still exists as the IFHP). Sam van Embden was chosen as the first President and Herman Herwig as the first Secretary General/Treasurer, both from TU Delft University. During the 23 January meeting, we also discussed "Accelerating Agenda 2030: Insightful discussions on planners' roles in implementing the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda." This was followed by a Special Survey among our members to gather information on how urban and regional planning contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11. The survey results have provided a valuable resource to reflect on the last decade of ISOCARP since the adoption of the SDGs, the International Guidelines on Urban & Territorial Planning, and the New Urban Agenda, as well as ISOCARP's Silver Jubilee publication of 2015. Complemented by interviews with members from all continents, the Diamond Jubilee publication is now ready for printing and is expected to be launched during our 61st World Planning Congress in Riyadh. In previous PULSE editions we reported on key anniversary activities, including the September gathering of sixteen international planners in The Hague, Zoetermeer, Delft, and Rotterdam, where we celebrated 60 years of ISOCARP, reflected on the life and work of Prof. Sam van Embden (1904–2000), and discussed opportunities and challenges in one of Europe's most advanced planning regions – the North Sea Region Megalopolis, nowadays also referred to as the 'Eurodelta Megacity'. Earlier, the June PULSE featured the ISOCARP60 Roadmap and the celebratory ISOCARP60 birthday cake in the Oliva Tower in Gdańsk, Poland. At the start of our Special General Meeting on 18 November, we gathered member feedback using Mentimeter – see graphics below. The supportive response to all statements will inform the Board's new Strategic Plan after the election of six new Board members – see next section. As the Jubilee year culminates at our annual World Planning Congress in Riyadh, the focus now naturally shifts from celebration to shaping ISOCARP's future. The ISOCARP60 Diamond Jubilee celebrations will conclude in Riyadh. Be there!          ISOCARP Governance & Elections 2025 In the September PULSE we briefly reported on our well-attended Members' Meeting on 28 June 2025, as well as the Health Scan results presented there. While much has been achieved, there is still plenty to do. A follow-up Members' Meeting was held on 18 November to address urgent governance matters, including the upcoming elections for six Board vacancies, to be filled at the Annual General Meeting in Riyadh on 3 December. On 24 November, a virtual meeting was held with all candidates for the vacant Board positions, open to all members. The meeting concluded with the launch of the online voting platform, inviting and encouraging all members to cast their votes until the Annual General Meeting in Riyadh on 3 December. The International Society of City and Regional Planners is a member-led global organisation with the vision of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Put most simply, we are an association of city and regional planners in all parts of the world – connecting, sharing, and giving planners a voice in the most important global conversations.  Share news with us! If you would like to share announcements or contributions for future newsletters or ISOCARP's social media channels, please drop an email to Communications Officer Anushruti Ganguly