Cities are "low-hanging fruit" in the land restoration challenge. This event showcased initiatives ranging from mangrove ecosystem restoration to urban forestry to deliver on commitments across the three Rio Conventions to enhance human well-being and property values.

Exceptionally vulnerable to climate change, informal settlements also face pressures from population growth. This event raised awareness of the intersection between informality, climate displacement, and loss and damage, underscoring the need to learn from local communities themselves.

Delegates focused on solutions to address the housing crisis' complex impacts, including promoting social cohesion and inclusivity, and addressing environmental sustainability concerns.

Moderated by the GEF Secretariat and GEF CSO Network, civil society organizations explored approaches contributing to pathways toward greater civil society engagement in GEF processes. In closing, Claude Gascon, GEF, underscored that civil society organizations and local actions are "the needed bottom-up approach to restore the environment."