U20 Background
Urban20 (U20) is a city diplomacy initiative that brings together cities from G20 member states, plus observer cities from non-G20 states, to discuss and form a common position on important urban issues, including climate action, social inclusion and integration, and sustainable economic growth. Meetings and discussions culminate in a final Communique through which the U20 issues recommendations to G20 Heads of Government.
The U20 was launched in 2017 at the One Planet Summit in Paris by conveners C40 Cities and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), under the leadership of the Mayor of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. The first subsequent U20 Mayors Summit took place in Buenos Aires the following year; Tokyo then hosted the second Summit in 2019. This year, Riyadh is Chair city and host of the annual Mayors Summit. The U20 unites the world’s leading cities. Each U20 city represents a major economic and political powerhouse. Together, the U20 cities are larger than the fifth most populous country in the world, responsible for over 8% of the global GDP, and collectively constitute the world’s third largest economy, after China and the United States. The U20 leverages that combined power to drive lasting impact in sustainable urban development.
The objective of the U20 is to bring urban issues to the forefront of the G20 agenda. The U20 is a unique platform for ambitious, local government leaders to step up and send a joint message calling for global climate action and sustainable development to their national leaders. This objective is achieved by delivering a final Communique of recommendations to the G20 President and Heads of State.
U20 Members and Taskforces
U20 members are primarily Mayors and their designated Sherpas from G20 cities, in addition to invited representatives of non-G20 cities. Addressing the world’s pressing urban issues requires widespread collaboration, though, so the U20 also engages select partner organizations in its efforts.
The goal of the U20 is to provide G20 leaders with policy recommendations for addressing urban challenges. To ensure solid, evidence-based recommendations are shared, the U20 uses a structured taskforce approach. Each of three taskforces focuses on a U20 priority area agreed on by the collective U20 body and consists of city representatives as well as knowledgeable partner organizations.
Over the course of the year, taskforces author white papers and policy briefs with specific, actionable solutions. These recommendations are then shared with G20 leaders via the U20’s final Communique.
U20 Process


U20 Current Statistics

Past U20 Mayor Summits


first Sherpa meeting attendees
Brazil

- Rio de Janeiro
- Sao Paulo
Finland

- Helsinki
France

- Strasbourg
Germany

- Berlin
Indonesia

- Jakarta
Italy

- Rome
Japan

- Tokyo
Jordan

- Amman
Netherlands

- Rotterdam
Portugal

- Lisbon
Russia

- Moscow
Singapore

- Singapore
South Africa

- Durban
- Johannesburg
- Tshwane
Spain

- Barcelona
Turkey

- Izmir
USA

- Houston
SECOND SHERPA MEETING ATTENDEES
Argentina

- Buenos Aires
Brazil

- Rio de Janeiro
- Sao Paulo
Canada

- Montreal
China

- Beijing
- Shanghai
England

- London
Finland

- Helsinki
France

- Paris
- Strasbourg
Germany

- Berlin
Italy

- Milan
- Rome
Japan

- Osaka
- Tokyo
Jordan

- Amman
Mexico

- Mexico City
Netherlands

- Amsterdam
- Rotterdam
Portugal

- Lisbon
Russia

- Moscow
Saudi Arabia

- Dammam
South Africa

- Durban
- Johannesburg
- Tshwane
South Korea

- Seoul
Spain

- Barcelona
- Madrid
Turkey

- Izmir
USA

- Houston
- Los Angeles
- New York