By 2050, more than two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. To meet this future urban demand, over US$90 trillion in new infrastructure investments are needed—especially in transportation, energy, housing, and digital systems. However, investment levels remain critically low, particularly in the Global South.
Traditional public financing alone will not be enough. What can help? Blended finance.
To unlock the transformative potential of urban investment, blended finance models that combine public and private capital are essential, managing risks and generating impact.
At the same time, high upfront costs, coupled with limited technical capacity, continue to be major obstacles to mobilizing large-scale investment, as many cities lack the expertise to design viable projects that attract both public and private investors.
Supported by the European Commission and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), this Summit will bring together cities, investors, policymakers, development banks, impact investors, and innovators who are shaping the future of sustainable urban finance.
Explore the UTM Global Innovation Summit 2025 agenda, packed with interactive sessions, workshops, and presentations. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with urban planners, policymakers, and global leaders at the forefront of urban transformation.
- Deep-Dive Workshop: Transforming Urban Planning with Geospatial Data & AI
Date: November 5, 2025
Time: 14:00 – 16:00 (BRT)
Location: Brazilian Energy Research Office (EPE), Praça Pio X, 54 – Centro
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Unlocking Investment for Cities: Blended Finance for Urban Transitions
Date: November 6, 2025
Time: All times in GMT-3
Location: Fundação Planetário, R. Vice-Governador Rúbens Berardo, 100 – Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-070, Brazil
- Study Tour: Rio de Janeiro – Pathways to a Net-Zero, Resilient City
Date: November 7, 2025
Time: 10:00 – 16:30 (BRT)
Location: Meeting point at Rio Operations Center, Rua Ulysses Guimarães, 300 – Cidade Nova, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20211-225