Governor Koike of Tokyo (center), Christoph Pusch of TDLC (second from right)
World Bank Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC) joined the TIME TO ACT Forum 2025, hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) on October 7, 2025, under the theme “Strategically Tackling Climate Change — Connecting Mitigation and Adaptation Actions from Cities to the World.” The forum brought together city leaders, international organizations, and private sector partners to explore how urban areas can accelerate climate action and move from ambition to tangible results.
In her opening remarks, Governor Yuriko Koike highlighted the importance of cities collaborating by sharing their knowledge and initiatives, and emphasized the need to translate these exchanges into tangible actions. Her message underscored the critical role cities play in delivering measurable outcomes in the face of escalating climate challenges.
Christoph Pusch, Program Manager of TDLC, joined a panel discussion alongside Governor Koike and other global and city leaders to exchange views on how cities can lead the transition toward resilient and low-carbon futures. The TIME TO ACT Forum 2025 reaffirmed that cities are at the forefront of global climate action. Drawing on insights from the World Bank’s latest report "Banking on Cities”, and his extensive experience in urban development and disaster risk management, Pusch highlighted the importance of robust financing mechanisms, strong local capacity, and multi-stakeholder partnerships. He reaffirmed the World Bank TDLC’s commitment to supporting cities through technical assistance and knowledge exchange in collaboration with TMG and other Japanese partners.
The TIME TO ACT Forum 2025 reaffirmed that cities are at the forefront of global climate action. TDLC will continue to work closely with partners in Japan and around the world to help cities translate their climate ambitions into concrete, lasting impact.