Moscow at the UN-Habitat Assembly

From May 27 to 30, 2025, Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, hosted the resumed second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly—one of the UN’s key programs on the global sustainable urban development agenda. A delegation from the Government of Moscow, led by Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Government of Moscow, Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations, took an active part in the forum. Technical support for the delegation’s events was provided by the Moscow Center for International Cooperation.

The central event was a dialogue with the leadership of UN-Habitat. During a meeting with Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, the parties discussed prospects for cooperation and Moscow’s initiative to host the 14th World Urban Forum in 2028. Ms. Rossbach expressed interest in deepening collaboration with the Russian capital.

Sergey Cheremin presented UN-Habitat leadership with Moscow’s key achievements in the area of sustainable development. Special attention was given to the city’s progress on several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including “Affordable and Clean Energy,” “Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure,” “Gender Equality,” “Decent Work and Economic Growth,” “Quality Education,” and “Climate Action.”
“Moscow doesn’t just follow the UN global agenda—we actively integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into our urban policies,” Cheremin emphasized.

He highlighted one of Moscow’s flagship urban planning projects—the Renovation Program, launched in 2017. This initiative represents the largest urban renewal effort in Russia, aiming to provide over one million residents with modern, energy-efficient homes. A total of 648 buildings have already been vacated, and the new residential quarters feature not only comfortable housing but also landscaped courtyards, playgrounds, and essential social infrastructure.

Special focus was also given to the climate agenda. Moscow became the first Russian region to issue green bonds to finance environmental projects. The funds have been invested in the development of sustainable public transport, including the construction of the Big Circle Line of the metro and the purchase of electric buses. It was emphasized that by 2030, all public transport in Moscow will be electric.
Moscow’s initiatives were highly praised by UN-Habitat experts as a successful example of a comprehensive approach to enhancing urban quality of life.

A meeting was held with Anar Guliyev, National Coordinator of the 2026 World Urban Forum, during which the parties discussed prospects for Moscow’s participation in the upcoming event in Baku.
Particular attention was given to cooperation with Kenyan partners. During meetings with Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja, members of the City Council, and Vihiga County Senator Godfrey Osotsi, discussions focused on experience-sharing in areas such as transportation development, smart city technologies, affordable housing, public safety, and the use of technology in education and healthcare. Talks were also held with representatives of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where both sides expressed interest in strengthening economic ties and launching joint projects.
The visit marked an important step in strengthening Moscow’s position as a global center for sustainable development within the UN-Habitat framework and laid a solid foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation between Moscow and Nairobi.