“A sustainable future will be built in our cities and communities. But local action alone will not be enough. We also need strong institutions, strong rights and strong legal commitments. And this is where the Council of Europe has a distinctive contribution to make. Our Organisation has a unique strength: turning shared values into binding legal commitments,” said Congress Secretary General Mathieu Mori in his opening speech at the 6th United Nations Forum of Mayors, held in Geneva on 12–13 October 2026.
The Secretary General underscored the importance of strengthening the legal protection of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. In this regard, he highlighted the Council of Europe’s ongoing exploratory work towards the development of a legally binding instrument in this field, as well as the Congress’ initiative to develop an Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Local Self-Government on environmental protection.
“Our message is clear: local authorities cannot be expected to deliver on environmental commitments without the powers, resources and meaningful participation in decisions that affect their communities,” he emphasised.
Held under the theme “Cities Delivering for a Sustainable Future”, this year’s Forum addressed key urban challenges, including affordable housing, sustainable mobility, green cities, environmental protection, urban planning, disaster risk management, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage.
On the sidelines of the Forum, the Secretary General held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and other international partners. The discussions focused on reviewing existing cooperation and exploring opportunities for further collaboration.
The Secretary General also participated in an exchange with mayors and policymakers at the special event “Adapting City Diplomacy in a Fractured World”, organised by UNECE and the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Geneva Policy Outlook.
