The Department of Research and Development is a proud participant in the Cities Forward program. 

Cities Forward, a flagship urban sustainability initiative of the U.S. Department of State, fulfills commitments made at the Ninth Summit of the Americas by President Biden and Secretary Blinken.

The program supports selected cities across the hemisphere in developing sustainability action plans and implementing projects that ignite job creation and innovation investment; mitigate pollution; strengthen climate resilience in the built environment; and improve health and welfare in underserved communities.

Through a vast network of urban sustainability experts led by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Resilient Cities Catalyst, and the Institute of the Americas, Cities Forward supports participating cities in their efforts to deliver transformative projects in green infrastructure, sustainable urban services, and the circular economy.

This transformative program will help Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) cities create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient futures with knowledge sharing with U.S. cities.

Cities Forward Fact Sheet

Cities Forward Cooperation Charter Between Fortaleza, Brazil and Hawaiʻi County

Video: Cities Forward - Charter: Fortaleza, Brazil & Hawai`i County, Hawai`i from ICLEI USA on Vimeo.

2023 Cities Forward Kickoff 

The Department of R&D participated in the Cities Forward kickoff event in México City on September 26-29, 2023.  See ICLEI's "Top Five Takeaways from the Cities Forward Program Kickoff."

Participants sharing their climate and sustainability experiences during the workshop. From left to right: Mayoress Diana Guadalupe Caiza Telenchana, Ambato, Ecuador; Frecia Cevallos, Deputy Director, Hawai`i County Department of Research and Development, Hawai`i; and Bianca Cantoni Coutinho, Advocacy Advisor, ICLEI SAMS. 

Partnered Cities